PBA technical director Ramil Cruz. PBA IMAGE
PUERTO PRINCESA, Philippines — The North and South All-Stars have donated all of their cash winnings on Sunday to the surviving family of the late PBA technical director Ramil Cruz.
Both teams received P150,000 combined from the dance off and another P30,000 from the All-Star MVP winner, who ended up being Terrence Romeo.
Cruz died in his sleep in his hotel room in Palawan. He was 48.
READ: PBA technical director Ramil Cruz passes away
Marc Pingris of the North All-Stars, which won the game but lost the dance off, said the players didn’t even think twice about the gesture.
“Napag-usapan na namin yan before pa kami pumunta sa venue na bibigay namin lahat ng makukuha namin sa dance off at sa kung sino man manalo ng MVP,” Pingris told reporters after he was being mobbed by fans at the lobby of Aziza Paradise Hotel here.
(We already talked about that even before going to the venue, that we’re giving all of our winnings, and the prize of whoever wins the MVP.)
“Walang dala-dalawang isip yan, tayo naman dito sa PBA kahit na kaming mga player may mga awayan sa mga referees isang pamilya tayo dito sa PBA,” Pingirs, who drew a thundering roar Sent from my iPhone
(We didn’t think twice. We are a family here in the PBA, even if we fight against the referees.)
The Purefoods Hotshots star Pingris also recalled the last time he and Cruz, also a former University of the Philippines basketball team player and assistant coach, talked.
“Naiyak talaga ako kasi kagabi nagkakasiyahan kasi kami ng mga players tapos napadaan siya so niyaya ko pa siya na ‘sir dito muna kayo’ pero sabi niya panonoorin na lang daw niya kami,” said Pingris.
(I can’t help but cry because last night when we were having fun, he passed by us. I even asked him to stick around but he said he’ll just watch us.)
Cruz’s wife and brother arrived Sunday night here and were condoled by the PBA delegation.
“Dito sa PBA pamilya tayong lahat so nandoon ang suporta namin sa family niya.”
(We’re a family here in the PBA so we’re supporting his family too.)
The PBA offered a moment of silence for Cruz before the All-Star Game.
The league delegation– the staff, the media, the players, Board of Governors and PBA commissioner Chito Salud himself–wore a black shirt as a sign of mourning for the passing of Cruz.
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