
Jericho Cruz bid goodbye to the NLEX following a hard-fought win over Rain or Shine amid rumors of his impending move to San Miguel Beer as an unrestricted free agent.
Cruz took to social media to thank Road Warriors coach Yeng Guiao, governor Rod Franco and team official Ronald Dulatre after contributing 13 points in the 109-100 overtime victory despite trailing by a high of 22 points.
“Glad we got this W today,” Cruz said. “Always thankful for you Boss Rod, Boss Ronald and of course CYG (Guiao) for EVERYTHING. ”To my NLEX Fam and coaching staff, LOVE YOU ALL! Goodluck on your next games. Thanks for a great run.”
The post included a group photo of Cruz, Guiao and Dulatre inside the Road Warriors locker room at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Soon-to-be former NLEX teammates like Kevin Alas expressed good wishes to Cruz while San Miguel Beer’s Vic Manuel also commented on the post, further fueling the speculations.
The 31-year-old’s contract will end on Feb. 28 before he can sign for any team, the Beermen apparently his next destination.
A member of the 2014 draft class, Cruz is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent under a new league rule that allows players drafted since that year to sign for any team once their contracts expire.
He’ll soon be reunited with Rodney Brondial, the first player to invoke the clause when he left Alaska to join SMB in early-January.
Other unrestricted free agents who switched teams were Nards Pinto (Meralco to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel), Matt Ganuelas-Rosser (Terrafirma to TNT) and Chris Banchero (Phoenix Super LPG to Meralco).
NLEX loses Cruz with just one game left in the eliminations and riding high on a 7-3 record for third place.