It’s been an eventful past few months on the hardcourt for Jericho Cruz-winning Finals Most Valuable Player honors during San Miguel Beer’s run to the PBA Philippine Cup crown and helping Guam notch its first-ever victory in the Fiba Asia Cup.
But for Cruz, those milestones pale in comparison to a far greater blessing off the court. ‘Winning Finals MVP and making history for Guam isn’t the most important,’ Cruz said. ‘The important thing that happened to me was welcoming our baby.’
Cruz and his wife Mosh welcomed their third child during the offseason, giving the veteran guard a deeper sense of purpose heading into the new PBA campaign.
Season 50 opens this weekend with the Philippine Cup, leaving the Beermen little time to savor the title they clinched in late July as they look to extend their dominance in a conference they’ve won seven times in the last 10 stagings. ‘Like what our coaches are saying, we have to take it one game at a time and not think too much about trying to repeat,’ Cruz said.
Turning 35 soon, Cruz is expected to play a vital role for the Beermen-especially after earning Finals MVP honors from the PBA Press Corps and helping Guam reach the Asia Cup quarterfinal qualification stage.
He missed Guam’s final two games due to a hamstring injury but has since fully recovered and even saw action in San Miguel’s recent tuneup games.
‘Of course, my confidence will always be there,’ said Cruz, now entering his 11th PBA season.