PBA: No excuses for Jericho Cruz after missing game-tying attempt against Ginebra | ABS-CBN

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PBA: No excuses for Jericho Cruz after missing game-tying attempt against Ginebra

PBA: No excuses for Jericho Cruz after missing game-tying attempt against Ginebra

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

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San Miguel Beermen star Jericho Cruz. Photo from PBA Images.San Miguel Beermen star Jericho Cruz. Photo from PBA Images.

MANILA — The San Miguel Beermen fell short of extending their PBA Season 49 Governors' Cup semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel.

The Beermen had chances aplenty to overtake the Kings in the fourth quarter despite facing an 83-75 lead as they brought it down to three, 102-99, with under two minutes left, but things didn't go well for the perennial league powerhouse on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum. 

EJ Anosike looked to spoil Ginebra's party with a four-pointer in the end game, while Jericho Cruz had a last-second attempt in hopes of going to overtime with a trey. Unfortunately, both shots missed the bottom of the net. 

"'Di na-shoot eh, pero move on na lang tayo," said Cruz, who played the game despite dealing with a right ankle injury which he got from their Game 5 defeat in Ynares, Antipolo.

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"Do-or-die na eh, so nag take lang ako ng painkillers para makapag laro. Pero after ng game, worn out na, sobrang magang maga na pero it's not an excuse. We're all pros," pointed out the former Adamson University star before he limped out of the Big Dome.

Amid his ankle woes, Cruz played for 30 minutes and 36 seconds — the fifth-most by a Beerman in Game 6 — but his injury clearly hobbled him as he only finished with eight points on 3-of-11 shooting from the field.

Despite this, the outspoken guard had no excuses and simply tipped his hat to the Gin Kings. 

"Ganun pa rin, talagang maganda nilalaro nila," Jericho said when asked whether things could've been different if he was not nursing his injury. 

"Ang sa akin, congrats sa Ginebra. Maganda talaga ball movement nila kaya I wish them nothing but the best, and sana makuha nila yung gusto namin sanang makuha. They deserve it."

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"Marami pa namang basketball na lalaruin, so I don't want to dwell on it. Hopefully, sa next time na ganung may mangyari, sana maipasok ko na. I just need to move on, forget about this loss, and just bounce back sa upcoming conferences. Bibigay ko yung best ko," he added.

And rather than blaming anyone or anything that resulted in their demise, Cruz instead touched on some points that can help him move forward. 

"Being more smart when on the floor. Alam niyo naman I play defense and offense, so I just need to be smart when I'm on the floor. When to take my shots, when to not take my shots, yun lang yung kailangan ko, and magpa kundisyon," he explained.

For now, he is one of the Barangay's fans as their sister squad is set to face a team from their rival company in the PBA — the MVP group's TNT Tropang Giga. 

"Congrats sa Ginebra, and sana mag champion kayo," Cruz said. 

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