Jericho Cruz with the Finals MVP and Championship Trophy.

“If I do have free time some people from outside leagues call me over and ask me to play for them as an import, sometimes I say yes and it depends if the return is good,” Cruz said.

Cruz recently played in a Quezon City League the San Agustin Village Basketball Association Season II 2013 Open League. He played only two games—the semi-final and the championship.

There, he challenged an ex Philippine Basketball Association player and helped his team win to be named finals most valuable player.

“I played in this outside league in Quezon City called SAVBAC season II 2013 Open League and I only played 2 games which are semi finals and the finals” Cruz said.

“The other team got other imports which are ex PBA players; in my team they got me and one ex PBA player” he added.

“Yeah, we played and thank God we defeated the other team and I got finals MVP” he said.

With UAAP76 starting the first week of July, Cruz is extremely excited as they will be the hosting this event.

More pressure for the Falcons as they suit up to defend their home.

With a student body of 17,160 the whole university would be on their toes cheering and screaming for their home team.

“I’ve been training hard for the next UAAP76 which will happen on 1st week of July, and the best thing about it is that we are the host in this coming UAAP76” said Cruz.

Cruz has been training extremely hard for this coming UAAP76, even though he spearheaded the Falcons to above .500 win rating he still isn’t satisfied.

Unfortunately not making it to the final four, Cruz is determined to make it this time in the coming UAAP76.

“Last year we came out short and our team this year is stronger than ever so I hope we make final four” Cruz stated.

At the moment there isn’t any major league to play on, so Cruz and his Falcons teammates concentrate on working hard at practice.

Being a student-athlete Cruz also keeps up with his academics getting good grades.

In order to play collegiate basketball, especially for the UAAP you got to have good grades.

“All we do is practice and attend our classes because we do need to pass our classes for us to play UAAP76” stated Cruz.

With school and the upcoming UAAP76, Cruz is not sure yet on when he can visit Saipan again, but if he does he will definitely be playing at the Northern Marianas College gym with coach Rufino Aguon and the CNMI Nationals.