Jericho Cruz’s arrival to the TNT Katropa has changed the team for the better so far. And San Miguel Beermen head coach Leo Austria expressed concern over that, especially now that TNT and SMB will clash in the playoffs anew this Tuesday.
Austria admitted that it would be challenging for him and the Beermen to face TNT with Cruz, his former student in Adamson University years back, as he has only added depth to an already-stacked and dangerous Texters roster. Moreover, with Cruz with them, TNT have won both of their games with a total combined margin of 47 points.
“With Jericho Cruz sa team nila, lumalim ‘yung bench nila,” said the reigning Coach of the Year Sunday night, as he watched TNT’s match with Phoenix Fuel Masters. “And Jericho Cruz is one of the key players in any team.
“That’s why I’m really worried about this team.”
He may have received some praise from his college coach, but Cruz, who’s been averaging 17.0 points for TNT so far, doesn’t want to dwell on it much, saying that his primary focus is fulfilling his role to help the Katropa to the quarters.
“I’m just gonna [fulfill] my role. I’m just gonna do my best. And siyempre, kung anong papagawa ni coach Nash (Racela), gagawin namin. And siguro try to have fun and not put anything into my head na ‘uy playoffs’,” he said.
‘I’m just [going to] try and enjoy the game lang.”
But the 27-year-old expressed excitement in meeting his former coach and the reigning All-Filipino champions, whom he has faced numerous times in the past when he was still within the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters’ realms.
“Excited and siyempre nervous din,” said Cruz. “As we all know, San Miguel is the number one team ngayon ‘di ba? Especially all-Filipino, walang makakabantay kay June Mar. But as for us… We’ll just help each other out.
“We can have gameplan na tutulungan namin ‘yung guards, tutulungan namin sina Mo [Tautuaa], sina Kelly [Williams]. And we’re just excited–excited to play, and ‘yun nga… Try to put up a show and help the team win.”
