After leading the San Miguel Beermen to a massive Game 4 victory in the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Jericho Cruz was described by TNT Tropang 5G team manager Jojo Lastimosa as like “a little boy” with “problems.”
Well, who here has no problems, right? On the court at least, Cruz sure was a problem for TNT in these Finals, particularly in the Beermen’s wins in Games 3, 4, and 6. He even nearly led a San Miguel uprising in Game 5, where he single-handedly towed the league’s winningest franchise to within 59-55 after falling behind by 18 in the first half.
Then, in Game 6, Jericho Cruz connived with June Mar Fajardo for one searing third-quarter breakaway that all but took the fight out of the Tropa. That run was all San Miguel needed to finally put away to relentless, resilient Tropang 5G and lay to rest TNT’s ambitious Grand Slam bid.
Afterward, that little boy was voted PBA Finals MVP by the PBA Press Corps. His numbers—13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.3 assists—weren’t overwhelming to say the least. But his impact was undeniable, and he played a huge role in the Beermen’s last three wins of this championship series.
Jericho Cruz Takes Over in Game 4
Cruz, who now has four championships to his name, was one of San Miguel’s key contributors in its 108-88 blowout over TNT in Game 3, putting up 13 points and 3 assists and playing his usual aggressive, in-your-face defense. He didn’t have to do much as June Mar Fajardo took handled business with a dominant 33-point, 11-rebound double-double.
Then, Cruz started really heating up. With a chance to seize a commanding 3-1 advantage, the veteran guard simply took over Game 4, firing 15 of his 23 points in the fourth to help turn a 67-64 San Miguel deficit entering the final frame to a 105-91 victory. Cruz was sensational in those 12 minutes, nailing three triples while playing aggressive defense to power the Beermen to within a win away from the title. He also brought out the typical Jericho Cruz antics—the flexing, the preening, the staredowns.
No wonder Lastimosa hit out at Cruz postgame, when he had some choice words for what he may have perceived as over-the-top celebrations.
Jericho Cruz Explodes in Game 6
Lastimosa and TNT exacted a measure of revenge on Cruz in Game 5, pulling out an 86-78 win to extend the series to a Game 6. Even then, the former Rain or Shine Elasto Painter nearly led a San Miguel comeback, firing the Beermen’s last 10 points of the third to inch them to within six after falling behind, 51-36, early in that canto.
The Tropa survived that onslaught. They couldn’t do the same in Game 6, when Cruz connived with Fajardo for another third quarter storm that pushed San Miguel’s 52-47 halftime lead to 86-67 entering the fourth. Cruz’s back-to-back treys early in that third actually gave the Beermen their first double-digit lead, 67-56, and they never looked back.
Yes, that little boy with problems did all that and then some.
Now, Jericho Cruz is a four-time champion—and a PBA Finals MVP to boot.
