Coach: Jericho All-Star snub puzzling

After Jericho Cruz’s impressive showing in the 7th FIBA Oceania Youth Tournament, CNMI Junior Nationals coach Rufino Aguon is puzzled his main gunner did not make it to the FIBA Oceania All-Star Team.

“Unfortunately he did not make it and I am still wondering why. We were not given or informed on the criteria of making the All-Star. I will be bringing this up on our next BANMI meeting so that we can inquire as to why,” Aguon said.

“I believe he should be on the team since he was our consistent scorer and the scoring champ in the pool play,” Aguon added.

Cruz played all three games in Pool B and tallied a total of 69 points for an average of 23 points per match. He had a slow start in the CNMI’s debut against Guam, drilling only 10 points. The CNMI lost against Guam, 102-61.

But Cruz showed what stuff he is made of against Papua New Guinea, firing 29 points and leading the CNMI to an impressive 93-84 victory.

Cruz picked up where he left off in the CNMI’s game against New Caledonia, engaging the French territory’s players to a shootout and exploding for 30 markers.

Despite Cruz making his highest output in the tournament, the Commonwealth bowed to New Caledonia, 92-131.

With their 1-2 record in Pool B, the CNMI Junior Nationals were pitted against Pool A No. 2 finisher Tahiti in the quarterfinals.

Against Tahiti, Cruz was still unstoppable, hitting 23 markers to become the top scorer for the CNMI for the third straight game. Unfortunately, the CNMI cagers lost to the much taller Tahitians, 74-97.

The Junior Nationals faced Palau next and although Jayvan Tarkong topscored for the Commonwealth with 33 points and helped the team win, 100-90, Cruz still reached his average, adding 23 points.

The CNMI dueled Fiji in the battle for fifth place and lost the close match, 63-65. Cruz nailed 23 points in the CNMI’s losing cause.

Aside from his consistent offense, the Marianas High School cager also averaged close to seven rebounds and five assists per game.

But Cruz’s all-around performance failed to get the panel’s nod, as his name was not called during the awards ceremony for the tournament last Saturday at the University of Guam Fieldhouse.

FIBA Oceania has yet to post on its website the names of the members of the All-Star Team which will be competing in a tournament in Australia next year.

Only 10 players from the eight squads that played in the youth tournament were selected for the elite team.

Meanwhile, Aguon believed the CNMI Junior Nationals achieved what they wanted to accomplish in Guam.

“Overall the trip and our performance was a success. We were proud to represent the CNMI and we want to thank the community and our sponsors who made our trip possible,” said Aguon, who thanked PTI, Jet Holdings, Palms Resort Saipan, and DFS Saipan.