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9. Jericho shakes off sophomore jinx
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Posted on Dec 31 2015
Jericho Cruz’s sophomore year in the Philippine Basketball Association is turning out well with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters set to meet the San Miguel Beermen in the semifinals of the Philippine Cup. (KC Cruz)
Jericho Cruz showed no signs of an injury he suffered last season and has been playing like a veteran to help the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters reach the quarterfinals of the 2015-2016 Philippine Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Cruz was drafted ninth overall in the 2014 Philippine Basketball Association rookie draft and was considered a sleeper in the annual exercise. He finished in the Top 5 of the Rookie of the Year race last season behind winner Stanley Pringle.
Cruz, who started his basketball career with the then G-Rollers of coach Joe Diaz, had a breakout game against Alaska on Dec. 5, 2014, where he scored 16 points behind a 6-of-7 field goal shooting.
His rookie stint, however, was cut short when he injured his left foot in the Painters’ 100-90 win over Ginebra two days after.
In this year’s Philippine Cup, with starting guard Paul Lee sidelined by an injury, Cruz stepped up and filled the shoes left by the combo-guard from the University of the East.
The former CNMI standout has been turning up MVP-like numbers as the Painters earned the No. 3 seeding after the elimination round.
He had a breakout game in Rain or Shine’s 103-81 crushing of Blackwater where he scored 23 points in 20 minutes of action on the floor in the elimination round. He also had three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
The Elasto Painters, who finished with an 8-3 record, will be facing San Miguel in the semifinals.
Rain or Shine had five finals appearances since 2011 where it won the Governor’s Cup.
