(c) PBA Media Bureau
Coach Yeng worked hard last week to reunite with some of his former disciples. One of the guy that he tried to get back, badly, was Jericho Cruz!
Under the tutelage of coach Yeng, Jericho Cruz blossomed into a starting-caliber guard. In his rookie season, coach Yeng trusted him right away and got 16.8 minutes per game to contribute 6.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 40.6% FG.
In his second Philippine Cup, he started to challenge the notion that Paul Lee is coach Yeng's best player as he accumulated 13.8 points, 48.8% FG, 2.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 24.2 minutes of playing time.
If you check his numbers this season, you will see that coach Yeng influenced Jericho's game, pretty well. So, what are his stats? 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 41% FG and 31% 3FG. Rebounds and assists are up but his efficiency dipped!
So, what could have been the package that Rain or Shine wants, to let go of a rising star in Jericho Cruz?
I never found a reliable smoked out there but I think Elasto Painters asked for a 1st round pick and maybe, Bradwyn Guinto?
Let us say, that was the trade and the big TNT-NLEX-MER-GBP trade did not materialize.
NLEX will have a best five of:
PG - Alex Mallari
SG - Jericho Cruz
SF - Sean Anthony
PF - Wayne Chism
C - Asi Taulava
It lacks three-point shooting to provide consistent space for Mallari and Cruz to operate but the grit, speed and energy of this five will make it a winnable group.
Even though they will give up two futuristic assets in this hypothetical trade, the effect will not be huge because Mallari and Cruz have legit untapped potential.
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