JERICHO Cruz has been dealing with an injury from the playoffs and into the finals of the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
The San Miguel guard said he sustained tendonitis in his Achilles heel during the NLEX quarterfinal series which he played through until the finals.
Due to the injury, Cruz is pondering on whether he will play in the Window 2 of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers for Guam later this month.
READ: Boatwright’s KBL stint stands in way of possible SMB comeback
Cruz averaged 7.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.33 steals during the Philippine Cup finals, not enough for him to secure his second straight Finals MVP trophy.
“Ayaw ko kasi maging gumawa ng mga excuse. Sa akin kasi, nangyari sa akin nung NLEX pa eh, ‘yung Achilles ko. Sa mga hindi nakakaalam, talagang I take ako ng Arcoxia [pain killer] every game,” said Cruz.
Cruz said he took a shot of pain killer before Game Six of the finals between San Miguel and TNT.
“[Nung Game Six] hindi ko na talaga kaya. Binigyan ako ng pain killer na shot sa puwet. Napakasakit pala nun,” said Cruz.
Cruz said the San Miguel coaching staff knows his situation, which is why his minutes were managed during the finals.
“Para sa akin naman, I just give my best kung ipapasok ako ni coach. Alam nila na I’m nursing na may nararamdaman ako sa Achilles. Natatakot nga ako baka mapunit. Naiilang ako,” Cruz said.
“Ang tawag daw doon tendonitis. Sobrang maga. Magang maga talaga,” Cruz said.
Online resources said cases of tendonitis could take at least six weeks to heal. Aside from the Guam games, Cruz said he is unsure if he can play in the early part of the Commissioner’s Cup to open on March 11.
“Parang ganun na nga,” said Cruz when asked about the Guam games. “Parang hindi ko kaya talaga. Gusto kong ipahinga ‘yung injury ko ngayon.”
On the prospects of missing the early part of the Commissioner’s Cup, Cruz said: “Depende pa talaga.”
Cruz was just relieved that his teammates were able to step up in the finals series where they beat TNT.
“Hindi ako makapihit or turn the corner. Kapag nagdadrive ako, pigil na pigil. Pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Nandoon naman ‘yung mga beterano namin. Sobrang nalungkot nga ako na nung pinasok kaming mga second group nakahabol sila,” said Cruz, referring to TNT’s second quarter run that made Game Six a close game midway through.
“Nalungkot ako pero masaya ako dahil nag-champion kami."
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
