San Miguel Beermen’s Jericho Cruz in the PBA Finals Game 2. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
They call themselves the Martilyo (Hammer) Gang.
And for good reason.
“Because when we are sent in, we just keep on pounding,” Jericho Cruz, San Miguel Beer’s gutsy backup guard, told the Inquirer on late Sunday evening after his team’s 109-85 Game 2 victory over Magnolia in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“The momentum shifted with us [on the floor] during the third and fourth quarters so we’re happy to grind it out and [contribute to getting] the win.”
READ: PBA Finals schedule: San Miguel vs Magnolia
“Our goal as a second unit is to provide more energy so when the first five comes back in the game, [the team will] still have the energy,” Cruz added.
The Martilyo Gang, also known as the Martilyo Boys, is just a subset of coach Jorge Gallent’s “Death 15,” a collective term for the Beermen that speaks about their depth.
And Cruz, who finished with 10 points, including two triples, and five rebounds said each member of that 15-man roster has been valuable in the conference so far—and in the team’s chase for the title. Cruz leads the bench mob of San Miguel, along with the likes of Mo Tautuaa and Don Trollano.
READ: PBA Finals: San Miguel’s ‘Martilyo Gang’ shows worth in Game 2
“Even players in the third group, coach doesn’t consider them as a third group,” Cruz said. “All of us here can start; we in the second group, when we go in the game, we want to heighten our levels of play. If [the starters] play well and we don’t, it won’t look good, right?”
The Beermen’s depth has been a thorn in Magnolia’s side in this series and the Martilyo Gang adds more pounding to the coaching staff’s headache.