Kevin Alas admitted that NLEX will miss the grit brought by Jericho Cruz now that the veteran winger has left the ball club after two-plus seasons.
The 31-year-old bade goodbye to the Road Warriors and on Tuesday, officially joined San Miguel as a free agent by inking a three-year max deal — a decision fueled by his desire to reunite with college mentor Leo Austria.
With this, the fiery trio Yeng Guiao had built consisting of Cruz, Alas, and star guard Kiefer Ravena has now broken up as well. Ravena has been with B.League club Shiga since October of last year.
Photo by PBA Images
“One of Jericho’s assets is ‘yung toughness niya e,” Alas told Tiebreaker Times.
“Kasi we know naman how Jericho is, talagang tough player ‘yan e.”
Cruz’s departure marked yet another personnel change within the NLEX camp over the past several days. Just last Thursday, the team acquired Justin Chua via trade with Phoenix for Kris Porter and a pair of future draft picks.
And, yes, it all happened during the tailend of the team’s elimination round campaign in the 2021-22 PBA Governors’ Cup.
Alas, however, is unperturbed, and instead has his sights set on Friday’s game versus defending champions Barangay Ginebra at the SMART Araneta Coliseum where the Road Warriors aim to lock a Top Four spot.
“Of course, admittedly, we will miss Jericho. But the thing is, hindi na namin siya iniisip ngayon,” the second-generation cager said. “We’re focusing right now on our preparations against Ginebra on Friday, and then of course sa playoffs.
“Kasi ‘pag inisip mo pa kung sino ‘yung nawala, baka maapektuhan ka pa. Kumbaga, maging solution-oriented na lang kami.”
Dealing with manpower-related matters, according to Alas, is actually nothing new to the team given the developments the past few seasons.
Photo by PBA Images
“It’s been happening to the team naman before pa,” he said. “Dati na-ACL ako, then na-suspend si Kiefer. Then si Poy [Erram] nawala, then last conference si Kiefer nawala. Then ‘yun na nga kay Jericho, pero nadagdag naman si Justin.”
And like what they’ve done to pull through during those challenging stretches, Alas believes that the Road Warriors can also manage this time.
“Ako naman, I believe God is in control of those things e. So ‘yung ano lang namin ngayon, ‘yung sinasabi ni Coach Yeng [Guiao], next man up,” he said.
“‘Yung nawala si Kiefer, nag-step up sina Calvin [Oftana], sina Don [Trollano]. And ‘yung sa posisyon ni Jericho, nandiyan naman sina Matt Nieto, Kris Rosales, sina Philip Paniamogan. And good addition din sa’min si Justin Chua,” he continued.
“That’s the good thing with Coach Yeng’s system. Kahit sino andyan, talagang binibigyan ni Coach Yeng ng chance, and nagde-deliver naman. It’s up to the players na rin na dapat mag-step up sila when given the chance.”
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