JERICHO Cruz still remembers the first tongue-lashing he ever received from Yeng Guiao. That happened during the 2014 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between their former team Rain or Shine and TNT KaTropa.
“First finals namin, nakalaban namin sila Kevs (Alas), sila Kuya Jayson (Castro). ‘Yun ‘yung inassign sa akin na bantayin si Kuya Jayson,” Cruz told 2OT.
“Halftime, ang daming na-shoot ni Kuya Jayson noon. Parang nakaupo ako sa locker room, lumapit sa akin si coach Yeng. Sabi sa akin, ‘Jericho, kala ko matapang ka. Pagdating ng finals, ang duwag mo.'”
It was just one of many rants Cruz experienced from Guiao before he was traded to TNT. Cruz said he was never offended by Guiao’s outburst, and took each one as a challenge to improve.
“Ginawa ko ‘yun as motivation. I never put it in my head o sa dibdib," the former Adamson star said. "Ang dami kong na-experience kay coach. Gusto ko ‘yun. Ang iniisip ko, gusto lang niya kami i-challenge. ‘Yun lang ‘yung iniisip ko."
Cruz eventually got reunited with Guiao after he was traded last year to NLEX after months of inactivity at TNT.
It is no surprise that he is experiencing a renaissance of sorts with the Road Warriors under Guiao.
Last year, Cruz became a hero in NLEX in an 86-85 victory over Magnolia when he scored on a buzzer-beating follow-up in Antipolo that gave the Road Warriors twice-to-beat advantage in the Governors' Cup quarterfinals.
Cruz, who won an all-Rookie Team selection as well as Mr. Quality Minutes and Most Improved Player awards under Guiao, got a call-up to play for Guam in the Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers earlier this year.
“Sa akin, totoong tao si coach Yeng talaga eh. Hindi siya plastic. Kung ano ‘yung nakikita niya, sasabihin niya sa 'yo eh kahit marami pang tao. ‘Yun ang gusto ko kay coach Yeng. Straightforward siya,” said Cruz.
Although he is now in his sixth year with the Road Warriors with a lot of seasons left in his PBA career, Cruz said he wants to retire with Guiao as his coach.
“Sobrang saya at thankful na nakasama ko uli si coach. Si coach ang nagbigay sa akin ng chance sa PBA, ‘yung awards ko sa PBA, dahil sa kanya. Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay coach Yeng," he said.
"Gusto ko na ngang tapusin ang career ko sa kanya eh."
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