Jericho to enter PBA draft

By JON PEREZ
Special to the Saipan Tribune

MANILA, Philippines—Jericho Cruz’s dream of playing in the Philippine Basketball Association will finally come true this year as the do-it-all guard decided to skip his final playing year of eligibility for Adamson University to join the rookie draft in August.

Cruz’s decision had Adamson University head coach Kenneth Duremdes losing his No. 1 offensive option and is a big blow to the Soaring Falcons’ campaign in the upcoming 77th University Athletic Association of the Philippines men’s basketball wars, which opens on July 12.

The 22-year-old combo guard said he informed Duremdes and the entire coaching staff of his decision and they gave their support. He then thanked the entire Adamson community for the two years he played for the Falcons.

Jericho Cruz

“I just want to thank the whole Adamson community; the coaches, staff, management, professors, and students. This isn’t really goodbye, I will still get my diploma and be a proud Falcon alumnus,” said Cruz.

“It was really a hard decision to make but I hope that the [Adamson community] will understand. I would like to continue playing for my school but I really think this is the best time to join the draft with new teams joining the PBA.”

Blackwater, Kia Motors, and NLEX will make their debut when the league opens its 40th season in October giving rookies and free agents more chance to play.

Being a new father also helped Cruz in making the decision of joining the draft. “I have a better chance of playing in the PBA this year.”

Cruz was drafted by Blackwater in last year’s PBA Development League. He was a member of the Philippine team that won the basketball gold medal in the 2013 Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

In last season’s UAAP, Cruz averaged 14.5 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists with the Falcons, who finished seventh with a 4-10 record.

Cruz started his basketball career on Saipan where he helped the CNMI finish sixth in the 2008 International Basketball Federation-Oceania Youth tournament and in the process was voted as one of the Top 5 players.

He was then named to the All Star team of the 2009 FIBA-Oceania tournament where he suited up for the CNMI seniors team.
Cruz then decided to try his luck in the Philippines where he initially played for Rizal Technological University in 2010 the same year when the Blue Thunder ruled the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association.

He was also a member of RTU’s two-time runner-up squad in the National Capital Region Athletic Association where the Blue Thunder lost to Olivares College and Colegio de Sta. Monica in 2010 and 2011. He was a member of the Mythical Team in 2011.

Cruz was spotted by then Adamson coach Leo Austria while playing in a tournament in Bacolod City. He averaged 10.1 points per game in his first tour of duty with the Falcons in the 2011 FilOil Flying V Preseason tournament then normed 12.3 markers per outing in his rookie year with Adamson in the 2012 UAAP season.