Jojo Lastimosa calls out Game 4 hero Jericho Cruz for ‘showboating’

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TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa slams Jericho Cruz for his antics after the San Miguel guard playfully dribbled the ball at the end of their Game 4 win that put the Beermen on the cusp of the PBA Philippine Cup title

MANILA, Philippines – TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa pulled no punches as he called out San Miguel guard Jericho Cruz for his antics.

Lastimosa slammed Cruz for “showboating” after the Beermen stalwart playfully dribbled the ball at the end of their 105-91 win over the Tropang 5G that gave San Miguel a commanding 3-1 lead in the PBA Philippine Cup finals on Sunday, July 20.

Cruz proved to be a thorn in the side of his former team as he scattered 15 of his game-high-tying 23 points in the fourth quarter, shooting a prolific 4-of-5 from the field and 4-of-5 from the free throw line in the period.

But that was not what irked Lastimosa.

With less than 20 seconds left and the game already decided, Cruz brought the ball up the court and skipped while dribbling.

Bumped by Almond Vosotros, Cruz then faked a throw directed at his TNT counterpart — a maneuver that resembled a street ball move.

“It felt like he was being disrespectful,” Lastimosa told reporters in Filipino. “He was showboating.”

The two were once in the same team when they were still with NLEX, but Lastimosa said friendship is set aside for the meantime as the best-of-seven series is being played.

“He’s all arrogance. The guy has problems. I know he has problems and he brings them to the court. There’s no friends here for now,” said Lastimosa.

“He’s just acting up. He’s just like a little boy. You can quote me on that.”

After his Game 4 performance, Cruz is expected to be a marked man in Game 5 on Wednesday, July 23, at the Araneta Coliseum as the Tropang 5G look to keep their Grand Slam bid alive.

Lastimosa, one of the cornerstones of the Alaska team that accomplished the Grand Slam in 1996, is seeking to become the first man to win the PBA Triple Crown both as a player and an executive. – Rappler.com