ON the cusp of a PBA Philippine Cup title after a highly emotional 105-91 Game 4 win, San Miguel wants nothing more than to ride that wave of emotions in claiming its first title in four conferences.
Feeling be damned.
This comes after a scathing rant from TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa who put Jericho Cruz and Chris Ross to task for their antics on the floor – going as far as saying that Cruz ‘has problems,’ while branding Ross as ‘not a nice guy.’
READ: Jolas hits out at Chris Ross after Game 4: 'He's not a nice guy'
“We want to be emotional,” Ross said when asked on how the intense and passionate atmosphere is affecting them in the seven-game finals affair.
“Boss Al [Chua] told us, you guys should play with emotion. Do your thing, when you play with that, your best comes out,” he said. “He was really talking about Jericho, telling Jericho, be you.”
And Cruz was him in that game alright.
The veteran guard out of Adamson torched the Tropang 5G in Game 4 – firing 23 points on five three-pointers, playing a big role in San Miguel’s massive 41-point quarter which turned the tide on TNT after a close first 36 minutes.
READ: Jericho Cruz earns Jolas' ire: 'Dinadaan n'ya lahat sa yabang'
And almost each time he made a basket, he certainly played it up – from finger pistols, to ‘too-smalls,’ Cruz was certainly letting it all out on Game 4.
And while it may have offended some, Ross wants to see more of that from the rugged two-way guard.
“And I always tell Jericho, when you’re you, we’re a better team. Everything you do, all that stuff, he’s such a good player [when he’s being him] and he showed that tonight,” he said.
Jericho’s at home in hostile environments
Pressed about the heightened physicality and emotions in the game, Cruz brushed it off while sharing how he loves playing in this type of atmosphere.
Not one to back down from physical play and psychological warfare, the 34-year-old embraces it instead as the more heated the game goes – the better he plays.
“Dun lumalabas yung laro ko e, pag sobrang physical na yung game,” Cruz shared.
“Pero hindi naman to the point na mananakit ka ng player, di ako ganun. Pisikal lang ako maglaro talaga and I only accept their challenge e.”
READ: Jericho Cruz puzzled about Jolas rant: 'Kilala n'ya ako'
And while he’s one of the most intense players on the court, Cruz shared how off it, he is just really another player – making the most of the opportunity to provide for his family doing what he loves the most, while bringing value to the team who pays his bills, and the fans who’ve paid to watch him play.
“At the end of the day it’s just basketball. After basketball we go home, we’re still friends, bukas basketball ulit. Yun lang naman yun, yun ang buhay basketball player, pag uwi naman enjoy namin ang family namin wala munang basketball, pag dating sa court, trabaho ulit,” he said.
“Kaya I give my 110 percent everytime I step on the floor, kahit na anong team ako. Yun ang maasahan ng kahit na sinong team na makakakuha sakin.”
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.
