 |
| Almond Vosotros fouled Jericho Cruz hardly after what Jojo Lastimosa thought was a "showboating" stunt. Joseph Sanvictores |
PASAY—A bit too early victory celebration by Jericho Cruz in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals triggered yet another heated clutch moment.
Cruz, who waxed hot in the fourth quarter to help the Beermen pull away from the Tropang 5G for a 3-1 series lead, began celebrating their win by galloping in place while dribbling the ball.
Almond Vosotros, visibly frustrated at what he was seeing, gave Cruz a hard foul, and the latter did not like the foul and confronted the former.
However, it was not only Vosotros who disliked Cruz's antics.
TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa also took exception to Cruz's premature celebration and called it an act of showboating.
"Parang bastusan eh. Wag naman ganun. Lahat naman tayo naglalaro ng basketball. He was showboating," Lastimosa said just as he was about leave the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
The former PBA grand slam champ added that Cruz has been that boastful even during their days with NLEX.
"Nagsama kami nyan sa NLEX with coach Yeng [Guiao], and dinadaan na lang niya sa yabang lahat. The guy has problems. Dinadala na lang niya sa court," Lastimosa further said.
He then saw Cruz's antics as childish, saying, "He's just acting up like a little boy."
When asked for a reaction to Lastimosa's statement, Cruz said, "Wala naman akong ginagawang masama. Saka patapos na yung laro. Syempre tumatalon ako. Masaya ako na panalo kami. Di naman showboating yun. Di ko naman siya tinignan."
He then said that Lastimosa was probably alluding to Chris Ross.
"Di ko alam yun kasi ang alam ko, si Chris Ross yung kaaway niya, hindi ako," Cruz further said, adding that he was surprised Lastimosa accused him of showboating.
Follow him on X: @IvanSaldajeno
