Guam in historic Gilas duel

MANILA, Philippines — Jericho Cruz isn’t only excited to play against San Miguel Beer teammates June Mar Fajardo and CJ Perez when Guam engages Gilas twice in the coming FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying window but also to make history as it’s the first time ever the national teams are facing off. Guam hosts Gilas at the Calvo Fieldhouse on Nov. 28 and the rematch will be at the Blue Eagle Gym on Dec. 1.

“The two games against Gilas are the biggest in Guam’s basketball history,” said Cruz who joined the Chamorros in 2020. “We just made history by qualifying for our first-ever FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah and also by winning our first-ever game in the competition. Now, we get a chance to play Gilas twice. Win or lose, we’ll give our best. We’ll be competitive. June Mar and CJ are friends off the court and PBA teammates. But basketball brought us to different paths on the national level.”

Cruz, 35, said he’s still not 100 percent from a ruptured tendon in the back of his knee. “Right now, I’m 60 percent sure I’ll play against Gilas,” he said. “Our coach (EJ Calvo) is running for Lt. Governor so he’s busy but we’ll soon be advised when we begin training camp.”

Cruz sat out the last two games against Japan and South Korea at the recent FIBA Asia Cup because of a calf strain but scored 21 in the historic win over Syria. Cruz said he’s hoping Guam will show up with a full lineup in the Gilas series. Standout teammates include 6-7 Tai Wesley of Utah State, 6-6 Earnest Ross of Auburn and Missouri, 6-10 Jonathan Galloway of the University of California at Irvine and 6-0 Takumi Fukuda Simon.

Wesley, 39, averaged 17.7 points and 7.7 rebounds at the FIBA Asia Cup. Cruz said he was once considered as a PBA import by Alaska. A Mormon who lived in Guam when he was five to 11, he has suited up in Holland, France, New Zealand, Australia and Puerto Rico. Ross, 34, has played in the NBA D-League and is a fixture in the Japanese B3 League. Galloway, 29, has seen action in Denmark, Croatia, Switzerland, Turkey, North Macedonia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Kosovo and Mongolia. Fukuda, 25, joined the Guam team in 2023 after stints with the U17 and U18 squads.