By MARK REY MONTEJO
Jericho Cruz can take all the jeers and heckling from the opposing team’s fans but it’s an entirely different story when they crossed the line.
The San Miguel Beer wingman had one spectator escorted out of the Araneta Coliseum after hurling disrespectful words not only towards him but also his family during Game 2 of the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
“Sakin sa mga fans wala naman eh, ito ‘yong trabaho namin eh, nothing personal. Pero wag naman idamay magulang natin, nanay, mga anak, asawa natin, iba na ‘yon para sa akin,” pleads Cruz after SMB’s 95-94 win over the Meralco Bolts.
“Syempre family man tayo eh, pero kung ako lang walang problema ‘yon eh, I can take the hit,” he added.
The incident happened at the eighth minute mark of the final frame after Cruz and Chris Newsome figured in a physical play which resulted in the latter lying down on the floor.
According to Cruz, however, the fan’s heckling started the play prior which also involved Allein Maliksi.
“Nilapitan ko sya, ‘di ko naman sya minura sabi ko lang sa kanya wag ganun. Di mo kami pwedeng murahin kasama ‘yong family namin pati mga anak namin,” Cruz recalled.
Cruz also lauded the quick response from the PBA as the Big Dome security escorted the fan out of the venue.
The veteran guard said he also quickly put the spat behind and is even open to talk to the fan and apologize for having him ejected from the Coliseum.
“Pero okay na ‘yon, wala na ‘yon buti nagawan kagaad ng [aksyon] ng PBA,” said Cruz.
“Baka magkita ulit kami, kakausapin ko [sya], magso-sorry rin ako syempre masakit din sa akin ‘yun eh. Gusto ko rin makita siya na nanonood,” he added.
