HAVING built a reputation as one of the PBA’s grittiest guards, Jericho Cruz has never found a fight he didn't like..
So when controversy found the San Miguel guard in the thick of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals in the form of a post-game tirade by TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa, it was just another fight he didn’t shy away from.
True to form, he came out swinging and had the last laugh, walking away with another PBA championship as well as the Finals MVP tucked in his back pocket on Friday’s fight night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.
READ Jericho Cruz caps contentious series with PBA Finals MVP award
But behind that game face is a husband and dad who saves his softest side for home.
“He’s the opposite. He’s very sweet, malambing, and barely gets emotional,” Cruz’s wife, Mosh, said of the SMB guard in the din of the celebration after the Beermen secured the 30th PBA championship in franchise history.
A mom of two — and soon-to-be three, Mosh is grateful to have Cruz hands-on and very much serviceable at home.
“Sa bahay, mas maangas ako diyan, ako ang boss niya, hanggang court lang ‘yan,” she shared with SPIN.ph, explaining how the title and award mean to the career of the Guam-born player.
“Sobrang laking bagay nito para sa kanya [Finals MVP and win], basketball is literally his life. He came here from Guam, took the risk without knowing ano mangyayari sa kanya,” she said.
So where is all this angst coming from?
Mosh shared that her husband is just man enough to take matters into his own hands and believes in himself.
“Si Jericho kasi, naniniwala siya sa sarili niya, and he’s big on taking risks. Lahat ginagawa niya, grabe sakripisyo niyan. Hindi lumalabas, iba ‘yung kinakain, sa amin masarap, sa kanya healthy lang,” she continued.
She added that Cruz is making an effort to better control his emotions, which has got him into trouble more than once.
“Alam ko gaano niya ginusto ito. Every morning, nagme-meditate lang siya so it could help him handle his emotions for the day. Especially coming from a recent controversy, motivated siya to get better,” she said.
The job done, Mosh expects to see Jericho get back to the version of himself that his family knows best.
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.
