Cruz will now shift his focus to his national team duties with Guam for the first window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
After a gruelling six-game PBA Commissioner's Cup finals that ended last Wednesday, newly crowned champion Jericho Cruz could not help but look forward to spending some downtime with his mother in California.
The plan would have to be put on hold, however. That is, until the San Miguel ace has finished his national team duty for Guam in the upcoming 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Meanwhile, his fellow Beermen, CJ Perez and June Mar Fajardo, will also fulfill their roles with Gilas Pilipinas.
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“Since nanalo kami, naka-ready na ‘yung ticket ko for Guam. Kasama ko family ko. At the same time, vacation na rin yun,” Cruz said shortly after San Miguel's 104-102 deciding Game Six win over Magnolia.
The burly SMB guard is joining Guam in the first window of the qualifiers where it is bunched together with powerhouse China, Japan and Mongolia in Group C.
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Cruz will join Guam as it tangles with Yuki Togashi-led Japan on Feb. 22 in Tokyo before flying to Mongolia to wrap up the first window hostilities three days later.
Only then would he be able to get his much-deserved respite in the sunny state in the western region of the US.
“After ng Guam stint ko, bibisitahin ko ang mommy ko sa States. So, on the 28th, magka-California ako. Pupuntahan ko ang mommy ko. Matagal ko nang hindi nakita, eh. Siguro, ang balik ko, mga March 12 or 11,” he said.
Cruz could miss a game or two for the Beermen in the Philippine Cup which opens on the 28th.