EMERGING as the Finals MVP of the PBA Philippine Cup is the least expected of Jericho Cruz.
Winning a championship after all, was the one that mattered most.
"Actually, yung Finals MVP bonus na lang sa akin kasi yung main goal ko talaga mag-champion," he said shortly after the Beermen regained the All-Filipino crown by finishing off the TNT Tropang 5G, 107-96, in the closeout Game 6 at the Philsports Arena Friday night.
Cruz had 13 points, four rebounds, and six assists in the title-clinching win as the top seeded team wrapped up the best-of-seven series, 4-2.
He had nine points in the breakaway third quarter when the Beermen outscored the grand slam hopeful franchise, 34-20, to finally take full control of the match.
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Cruz, 34, beat out June Mar Fajardo, 35, by unanimous votes to win the coveted award traditionally handed out by the PBA Press Corps.
"Hindi ko ini-expect ito, pero ibinigay sa akin. Maraming, maraming salamat," said the 10-year veteran in winning his first career Finals MVP.
He later shared the award to his San Miguel teammates and team top brass led by San Miguel Corporation Sports Director Alfrancis Chua.
"Hindi ko naman makukuha yan kung hindi dahil sa mga teammates ko and coaching staff," said Cruz, who came up clutch in, the series from Games 3 to 6.
"Siyempre kay Boss Al sa laging pag motivate sa akin."
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For the entire six-game series, Cruz averaged a third-leading 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in 26 minutes of play coming off the bench, while shooting a high 40 percent from three-point range (11-of-27). (RG)
