JEDDAH (Saudi Arabia) - Jericho Cruz couldn't be any prouder of how far Guam basketball has gone over the past few years as they're bound to figure in bigger competitions ahead, including the FIBA Asia Cup 2025.
"We have grown tremendously compared to before," he said.
The 34-year-old winger has been representing the country for about half a decade now and definitely, he's not only witnessed but has actually been a part of the developing basketball program's highs and lows.
He was left heartbroken when he missed their last-ditch attempt of reaching the 2022 Asia Cup back in 2021, and his absence truly affected the Guamanians' chances as they lost to Chinese Taipei via aggregate.
"I was in the bubble [in the Philippines] at that time, though I watched the game. That hurt a lot, of course," he said back then. "Imagine being just a win away from the Asia Cup. Just a win. But they fell short, unfortunately."
"Lost by mere points. That was too unfortunate," he added.
Fast forward to now and the rest of Team Guam are starting to reap the benefits of all the hard work they have been putting in, as the national team is now bound for their first-ever Asia Cup appearance.
Bigger challenges lie ahead for Cruz & Co. but they're bringing with them all the lessons they have gained since that crushing loss, or since the road to Jeddah opened up in 2022 beginning with the Pre-Qualifiers.
There, the wards of Coach EJ Calvo channeled all their frustrations on the court, enabling them to win all of their five games across two rounds to once again set foot in the Qualifiers - and continue their redemption bid.
It wasn't an ideal situation for Guam, however, as they found themselves drawn into a group that featured traditional powerhouses China and Japan, plus a Mongolia team that, like them, is hungry to prove their worth.
But as they say, it's not how you start but how you finish, and the squad went on to complete their story by taking down Thailand in the Qualifying Tournament for Third-Place Teams last March to secure their ticket.
And by being one of the 16 teams competing in the 31st edition of FIBA's flagship event in Asia, Guam have also brought themselves into the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers - a first for the program.
The next couple of years are sure to be busy for the group but Cruz is filled with excitement, for he knows that the experiences along the way will be beneficial not just for the team, but for an entire nation as well.
"That's where we can see where the caliber of Team Guam is," offered the 11-year pro, who recently won Finals Most Valuable Player honors after helping San Miguel claim the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup title.
Cruz and Guam are drawn in Group B together with Japan, three-time gold medalists Iran, and another West Asian contender in Syria. To know more about their upcoming FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign, click here.
FIBA