For Jericho Cruz, no accolade on the basketball court compares to the blessing he and his wife Mosh recently received: the arrival of their third child.
Fresh off a career-defining stretch—winning Finals MVP in San Miguel Beer’s Philippine Cup triumph and helping Guam notch its first-ever FIBA Asia Cup victory—Cruz enters the PBA’s 50th season with renewed inspiration both as an athlete and a father.
“Basketball will always be there, and I’ll always play with confidence,” Cruz shared. “But being Finals MVP or making history with Guam, those don’t compare to what matters most—welcoming another baby into our family.”
Now 35, the veteran swingman averaged 8.1 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 56 games last season, peaking just when the Beermen needed him most. With challengers like TNT, Barangay Ginebra, Magnolia, Rain or Shine, and Converge expected to push hard, Cruz knows defending the crown won’t be easy.
“Like our coaches always remind us, we just have to take it one game at a time,” he said.
For Cruz, the journey ahead is about more than basketball. With a growing family and a championship to defend, he has every reason to play with heart—both for San Miguel and for the people waiting for him at home.