MR. QUALITY MINUTES ALRIGHT
With 3:23 to play in overtime, Gabe Norwood launched a jumper, the ball bouncing high off the rim and about to land on Arwind Santos’ hands.
But an unfortunate miscommunication between the reigning MVP and teammate Chris Lutz denied Petron Blaze the possession as the two scrambled for the ball, which was last tipped by Lutz, sending the ball high in the air, to the board, into the rim, and down to the bottom of the net.
The score read 92-87 for Rain or Shine with 3:20 to play.
As per PBA rules, if an opposing player accidentally touches the ball and it went into the opposing basket, the points will be credited to the closest man in the action. And in that sequence, the closest Elasto Painter to Lutz was no other than undersized power forward Jervy Cruz.
Maybe that was the story of the game for the ex-King Tiger, that in Rain or Shine’s 99-95 overtime victory over the Boosters Saturday at the Mall of Asia Arena, Cruz was always in the right place at the right time.
With nine points already across his name after the first half, the UST alumnus sat on the bench as his teammates led by Paul Lee and JR Quiñahan slowly brought the Elasto Painters back in the game after being down by as much as 15.
But an unfortunate incident happened with 5:10 on the clock in the third as Larry Rodriguez had a bad landing off of a rebound play, seemingly hurting his right knee. As Rodriguez was helped off the floor, coach Yeng Guiao called Cruz’s number and the latter continued to support Lee, Quinahan, Gabe Norwood, and Jeff Chan in their second half onslaught.
Whether popping up for jumpers or hauling down offensive rebounds, Cruz did it without much flare, effectively stamping his class against the Petron big men.
He had eight points in the fourth, and had six in the extra period to finish with a double-double of 23 points, tying his career-high, and 12 rebounds, seven of which coming from the offensive glass.
But the former UAAP MVP brushed off the compliments, saying, “Sa amin kasi kahit sino pwedeng pumutok. Siguro nagkataon lang na ako yung maganda yung nilaro ngayong gabi, pero lahat kami nag-contribute naman.”
He also cherished the chance in facing a tough team in Petron.
“Parang ang sarap nilang kalaban kasi number one sila, wala pa silang talo,” Cruz said. “Kami yung unang nakatalo sa kanila, ang lalaki pa nila. Kaya masarap talaga sa pakiramdam.”
But Cruz said that he knows his role on the team, regardless of the performance he had against the Boosters.
“Ako, ang laging mindset ko lang is makatulong sa team,” he said.” Yung double-double, bonus na lang yun.”
“Ang role ko talaga is yung sa rebounding at depensa. Dapat yun yung pagtuunan ko ng pansin parati.” (RLeongson)
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