Jericho Cruz scored 24 points to help Guam produce a 103-83 victory over Hong Kong Sunday, June 13, in the first of their two FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers match in Amman, Jordan.
The NLEX Road Warriors guard made 9-of-16 shots including five triples while adding four rebounds, seven assists and three steals in almost 30 minutes in his second appearance for Guam.
Guam improved its record to 1-1 in Group C going into their second meeting Tuesday, June 15 with Hong Kong, which fell to 0-2.
Jericho Cruz-ed past Hong Kong!! #FIBAAsiaCup Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/xSiPUpwTg3
— FIBA Asia Cup (@FIBAAsiaCup) June 13, 2021
Guam hopes to sweep its two-game set with Hong Kong to secure a spot in the second round of the continental qualifiers which will be held days before the start of the Asia Cup in Jakarta this August.
Australia and New Zealand are tied for the lead in the group at 2-1 but are not taking part in the ongoing window.
Cruz had 12 points and four assists in the first quarter that saw Guam take a 35-19 lead.
Also stepping up for Guam are Tai Wesley and Curtis Washington, who played as an import for NLEX in the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Wesley topscored with 25 points and added 10 rebounds and nine assists while Washington tallied 16 points, six rebounds and three assists.
Chris Connor, who played for University of the East in the UAAP, added nine points in 13 minutes off the bench.