THE second stringers of the San Beermen will be ready to step up whenever they are needed.
Game 4 hero Jericho Cruz said this after leading the Beermen a 105-91 subduing of the TNT Tropang 5G for a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven title series of the 49th Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Nag-step up ako. Kung hindi maganda laro ng first group, nandito lang kami ni Don (Trollano),” said Cruz, now that the Beermen are in a position to claim their 11th Philippine Cup crown.
Cruz topscored with 23 points spiked by 5-of-7 three-pointers, including three big triples in the fourth quarter.
His big performance came as CJ Perez brought in 16 markers with clutch hits at the finish.
“’Yung ginagawa namin, binibigyan namin sila ng motivation para gumanda ang laro nila,” added Cruz, the Beermen’s 6’1” shooting guard.
Best Player of the Conference Junemar Fajardo knocked in a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double showing for the Beermen.
The Beermen, who last won a Philippine Cup crown back in 2022, will clash with the injury-hit Tropang 5G in Game 5 Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Chot Reyes-coached Tropang 5G need to come up with three wins a row in their effort to claim a sweep of the 49th season.
The Tropang 5G have already won the 49th season crowns of the Commissioner’s Cup and the Governors’ Cup at the expense of the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Gin Kings.
