Romwel Anzures

San Miguel Beer’s Jericho Cruz in action against the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.

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ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1753027193420IMG_7755.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="San Miguel Beer’s Jericho Cruz in action against the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images."/>San Miguel Beer’s Jericho Cruz in action against the TNT Tropang 5G in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.</div>MANILA — Jericho Cruz was the San Miguel Beermen&#x27;s hero as they moved to within a win from clinching the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup championship.The former Adamson University star fired 23 points on five three-pointers as SMB pulled away from the TNT Tropang 5G, 105-91, on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena, with the Beermen now holding a 3-1 lead over their counterparts.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/20/pba-jericho-cruz-catches-fire-as-san-miguel-runs-away-with-3-1-lead-vs-tnt-2206">READ: Jericho Cruz catches fire as San Miguel runs away with 3-1 lead vs. TNT</a></div>But while Cruz earned praises from his head coach Leo Austria, he was tagged by TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa as a &quot;showboat&quot; for his antics in the end game, in particular to RR Pogoy and Almond Vosotros. However, Cruz was clueless and insisted that he did not do anything wrong to Lastimosa whom he even shared time with in the past during their stint with the NLEX Road Warriors. <div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/7/20/pba-jolas-to-showboating-jericho-cruz-the-guy-has-his-problems-2346">READ: Jolas to ‘showboating&#x27; Jericho Cruz — ‘The guy has his problems&#x27;</a></div>&quot;Hindi ko naman tinitignan si coach Jolas. Baka iba yun, hindi ako yun,&quot; he emphasized. &quot;Wala naman akong ginagawang masama eh, tumatalon talon lang naman ako. Wala naman akong problema kay coach Jolas. Kilala ko naman yan, kilala naman niya ako eh. Palagi kaming magkasama dati niyan sa NLEX, nagsho-shooting kami palagi.&quot;As for his taunt to Vosotros, Cruz said that he just reacted to what his fellow former UAAP standout did to him.&quot;Tinira ako ni Vosotros, eh &#x27;di ginanoon ko rin siya,&quot; he said. &quot;Pero, wala naman akong ginagawang masama. Tsaka patapos na yung laro. Syempre tumatalon ako, masaya ako, panalo kami eh.&quot;&quot;Hindi naman showboating yun. Hindi ko naman siya tinignan. Wala talaga akong alam, promise,&quot; he added.For Cruz, these kinds of sequences are just brought by the heat of the game, especially when high stakes are on the line. &quot;Doon lumalabas yung laro pag alam mo yung sobrang physical na ng game, pero hindi naman to the point na mananakit ka ng player,&quot; he said. &quot;Hindi ako ganoon. Pisikal lang ako maglaro talaga.&quot;He then went on to maintain that everything that happens until the final buzzer should not extend to their lives outside of the court. &quot;And at the end of the day, it&#x27;s just basketball lang naman eh. After basketball, we go home, we&#x27;re still friends,&quot; Cruz said. &quot;Pag-uwi namin, kasama yung family namin, enjoy na, wala munang basketball. Pero pag sa court, trabaho talaga namin yun kaya I give my 110 percent every time I step on the floor. Yun ang maaasahan sa akin. Ilang years na lang, baka call it quits na eh, hindi natin alam eh. Gusto ko na rin magpahinga,&quot; he added.

Jericho Cruz was the San Miguel Beermen’s hero as they moved to being a win away from clinching the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup championship.

Jericho Cruz was the San Miguel Beermen’s hero as they moved to being a win away from clinching the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup championship.

PBA: Cruz defends self from ‘showboat’ tag - ‘Wala akong ginawang masama’

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PBA: Cruz defends self from ‘showboat’ tag - ‘Wala akong ginawang masama’

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 21, 2025 12:13 AM PHT

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PBA

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PBA Finals

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Jericho Cruz

Jojo Lastimosa

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