ANTIPOLO – Jericho Cruz has no beef whatsoever with Deonte Burton even after the NLEX import confronted him late in San Miguel’s 135-133 come-from-behind win on Wednesday night in the PBA Governors Cup at the Ynares Center.
Cruz said he was actually surprised when Burton approached him during the customary team handshake at midcourt and telling him that he'll be waiting for the tough-playing San Miguel Beer guard outside the venue
“Hindi ko nga alam, e. Lumapit sa akin tapos sabi niya, ‘I will see you outside,’ said Cruz.
“Sa akin naman, laro lang. Wala namang personalan.”
READ San Miguel beats NLEX after great comeback from 20-point deficit
The two clashed with 4:57 left before halftime and NLEX leading, 50-45. Cruz was caught hitting Burton with a hard elbow that sent the former NBA player to the floor.
The Filipino-Guamanian was assessed with an unsportsmanlike flagrant foul. But the product of Adamson claimed Burton hit him from behind while trying to give a pick on San Miguel import George King in a previous play.
“Nainda ko parang tumunog yung likod ko,” he said, adding the retaliation was a natural instinct.
Still, Cruz said he’s leaving everything inside the court.
“Pero tapos na yun. Hanggang dun lang yun,” said the 36-year-old San Miguel player.
Cruz finished with six points, four assists, and two steals in helping the Beermen fight back from a 20-point fourth-quarter deficit to end up in a tie with NLEX on top of Group A with on 9-3 records. The Road Warriors though, ended up claiming the top seed by virtue of a better quotient.
Despite ending up as the No. 2 seed, Cruz was nonetheless proud of the way San Miguel didn’t give up.
“Mahirap yung ginawa namin. Total team effort yun,” he said.
And knowing where credit is due, Cruz acknowledged how a great player the 32-year-old Burton is.
“Malakas talaga sila (NLEX), ang galing ng import nila. Sobrang galing. Siyempre NBA caliber yun. Talagang nahirapan kami,” he said.
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