JUST a week ago, CJ Perez and Jericho Cruz teamed up to lead San Miguel in a merciless beating of Titan Ultra in the PBA Philippine Cup.
A week from now, the two will try to outdo each other.
The two set aside their camaraderie for the meantime as they go up against each other when Gilas Pilipinas tangles with Guam in the opening window of the FIBA World Cup qualifiers on Nov. 28.
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Guam, which counts on the 35-year-old Cruz among its top gunners, will host Perez and the rest of the Filipinos at the UOG Calvo Field House, marking the first time the Philippines is playing the home team with the San Miguel Beer guard suiting up.
Perez, who had 26 points in the Beermen’s 158-117 whipping of the Giant Risers prior to the PBA’s three-week break for the FIBA window, jokingly said he already talked to Cruz about not suiting up for Guam in next week’s encounter.
“Kinokontrata ko na nga siya na huwag ng maglaro para mas madali,” said the former NCAA MVP out of Lyceum with a grin.
Of course, having won three championships together at San Miguel, Perez exactly knows what Cruz can bring to the table.
“Si Jericho iba yung role niya dun (Guam). Parang siya rin yung tinitingnan ng mga players doon,” he said of Cruz, who complemented Perez with 24 points in that 41-point blowout of Titan Ultra.
“Proud ako doon kasi iba yung role niya dito (San Miguel) and nakakapag-adjust siya agad doon sa Guam.”
Cruz, a Filipino-Guamanian who’se been playing for the Guam men’s national team since 2022, has carved a reputatoin as a tough defender in his more than a decade of playing in the PBA, but assumes a different role as one of Guam's top offensive threats, averaging 10.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 4.1 assists in FIBA sanctioned-tournaments.
During the last Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia, he came through for 21 points as Guam downed Syria, 82-73, for its first-ever win in the history of the continental tournament.
The former Adamson stalwart highlighted his performance by drilling five three-pointers.
That being said, Perez is well aware Cruz is on the radar of Gilas coach Tim Cone and his staff.
So will the task of taking on his San Miguel teammate on defense fallson his hands, or will Cone opt to put Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos, or Chrise Newsome on Cruz?
Perez would not speculate, but mentioned a rotation of defenders could take on Cruz in an attempt to slow him down.
“Yung matchup naman doon team effort. Alam naman natin si coach Tim, alam natin kung paano mag-prepare sa depensa,” he said.
“So dapat mag-prepare kami ng maayos para makuha namin yung panalo.”
Gilas Pilipinas will take its turn of hosting Cruz and Guam when the two sides meet again on Dec. 1 at the Blue Eagle gym.
The national team began preparing for the meet when it held its first practice Tuesday at the Blue Eagle gym.
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