WITH another PBA Philippine Cup Finals between San Miguel and TNT coming, Jojo Lastimosa and Jericho Cruz can’t help but recall their verbal clash the last time their respective teams met in the championship series.
Both Lastimosa and Cruz recalled with a laugh the heated post-game exchange they had in last year’s all-Filipino title series.
“Basta huwag lang uulitin ni Jericho yun, walang mangyayari,” said the TNT team official.
And Cruz’s reply?
“Tingnan natin baka magawa ko ulit yun. “Basta huwag mo akong aawayin coach, a.”
READ Jolas on Jericho: Dinadaan ang lahat sa yabang'
It was the press conference for Season 50’s first conference final and both teams are having a good time looking back at what transpired in last season’s finale, which the Beermen won in six games.
Back in Game 4, Lastimosa accused Cruz of showboating following San Miguel’s 105-91 win.
Cruz had a game-high 23 points in the win where he was seen hyping the San Miguel crowd just as the game was coming to an end.
The tough-playing guard out of Adamson was eventually named Finals MVP by the PBA Press Corps.
While words were exchanged back then, Lastimosa said he has no problem with Cruz, with whom he spent some time together at NLEX.
“OK kami ni Jericho,” said Lastimsa, one of the 50 Greatest PBA players of all time.
“He really played very well. I think that’s the reason why he was the Finals MVP. Big part of them was Jericho’s plays.”
Lastimosa, a winner of 10 PBA championships including a rare grand slam, is keeping his fingers crossed Cruz won’t have the same series this time.
“Hopefully, hindi na ganun kaganda ang shooting ni Jericho,” he said with a laugh.
To which Jericho replied, “Bahala na kung ano mangyari sa game. Basta ako lalaruin ko yung laro ko, yung fire sa akin, ilalaro ko pa rin.
“Kumbaga sabi ni coach Jolas, huwag kong gagawin. Tingnan natin kung magawa ko ulit yun.”
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.
