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Cruz reaps major awards in Tinian Invitational
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Posted on Apr 15 2009
CNMI Nationals mainstay Jericho Cruz reaped the major awards in the just-concluded 2009 Budweiser Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino Invitational Basketball League, taking home the best player of the championship game and the Most Valuable Player plums.
Cruz scored 30 points in Hyatt REgency Saipan’s lopsided 100-75 victory over Aqua Resort Club in their championship duel Monday night at the Tinian Municipal Gymnasium.
He was the lone player from Hyatt to make it to the Mythical Five. Others on the list were Darwin Barbo and Ryan Sanciangco of third placer Pacific Islands Club, Aqua’s Jhun Estolas, and Fiesta Resort & Spa, Saipan/Saipan Grand Hotel’s Elmer Esdrelon.
Aqua’s Marvin Deocares was named Best Coach.
James Abuy was the three-point shot king, although he managed to make only two of his five tries from downtown in PIC’s 100-96 triumph over fourth placer Fiesta/Grand.
Fiesta/Grand’s Raymund Cadagat went 7-of-18 from beyond the arc, but took the best in steals award. He also owned the highest score of the season with 49 points.
The other individual awardees were Ringo Reyes of host TDHC (best in rebounds), Kelvin Fitial of Aqua (best in defense), Bernard Aquino of Hyatt (best in assists), and Sanciangco (scoring champion).
Sanciangco, who scored 48 points in the battle PIC’s win over Fiesta/Grand, also went home with the Sportsmanship Award for individual category, while TDHC won the same award in the team division.
After playing for Hyatt, Cruz is hoping to suit up for a collegiate team in the Philippines.
He said he is looking for a scholarship grant from the University of the Philippines and hopefully he can play for the UP Fighting Maroons in the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines.
The UAAP is the premiere collegiate sports organization in the Philippines and has the basketball competition as centerpiece of its annual sports events. The UAAP caging has long been a backyard for players aspiring to make it to the Philippine Basketball League and the Philippine Basketball Association, Asia’s first professional league.
