JERICHO Cruz was a puzzle in the beginning, making a mess of the Gilas Pilipinas defense. But sustaining it was a diffierent matter. And as the game wore on and his tactics became familiar, Cruz was ccntained and Gilas waltzed to victory against Guam in the opening window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers on Friday night.
Cruz, who plays for San Miguel Beer in the PBA and a dual citizen that allowed him to play for Guam, performed like he had something to prove and exploded right off the bat. But his heroics were not enough and Guam fell, 87-46, before a sellout crowd at the University of Guam Calvo Field House.
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The 35-year-old Cruz had 15 points at the half to lead Guam in a competitive first quarter, but scored only two points in the second half when Gilas defenders began to clamp down on him.
He finished with 17 points on 7-of-20 shooting and added two rebounds and two assists in Guam’s first ever game in a World Cup qualifier.
Gilas coach Tim Cone said Cruz’s performance was something the team expected out of him.
“We know him (Cruz) well because he plays in our league. He went off like nine points in the first quarter and 15 in the first half. We didn’t have any answers for him, although we knew he would be incredibly motivated against us,” said Cone in the post-game presser.
“We know how good he is.”
Tai Wesley was the only other player to finish in double figures with 12 for Guam and the team could not get what it wanted from three stalwarts, including big man Ben Borja.
Wesley was held down to just four rebounds, while Jonathan Galloway added eight points and eight rebounds.
Gunner Takumi Simon struggled from the field by going scoreless on 0-for-12 shooting, and had four rebounds and two assists.
Cruz ended up carrying most of the brunt.
Cone went to old reliable guard Scottie Thompson to slow down Cruz in the second half.
“It was nothing new for Scottie to go up against him (Cruz). Like I said there’s always great motivation in that kind (of game). If Jericho is motivated, I think Scottie is motivated to defend him in the second half,” said the Gilas coach.
Aside from defending Cruz, Thompson had a well-rounded game of seven points, five rebounds, four assists, and three steals in 19 minutes of play.
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