Jericho Cruz career-best showing earns him PBA Player of Week honors

San Miguel’s Jericho Cruz. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines–Jericho Cruz has played a big part in San Miguel’s stellar 8-1 start in the 2022 PBA Philippine Cup.

Cruz, who joined the team in March on a three-year deal, has made a huge difference for the Beermen, especially in their recent streak including wins over TNT Tropang Giga and Blackwater.

He put up an average of 27.5 points behind a scorching 57-percent shooting along with 3.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists in that stretch to earn the Cignal Play-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week citation for the period July 6-10.

“I just tried to keep myself open when June Mar is being double-teamed. I’m grateful for our coaches’ trust in me. Without their trust, I wouldn’t get this confidence,” said Cruz in Filipino.

With San Miguel top guns like Terrence Romeo, Chris Ross, and Vic Manuel out, Cruz has been a steady source of numbers, providing six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo ample help.

Cruz finished with a career-best 30 points in their 115-99 win over TNT then followed it up with 25 points in the 110-107 overtime win over Blackwater.

Also nominated for the weekly citation were Fajardo, who has also been on a tear as of late for San Miguel, Converge’ s Tyrus Hill, Justin Arana and David Murrell, Meralco’s Aaron Black, and Magnolia’s Ian Sangalang, Jio Jalalon and the returning Paul Lee.