If there’s one game plan that’s proven to be effective every time teams take on the Arellano University Chiefs, it has always been “If you stop Salado, you stop Arellano.”
But Levi dela Cruz stepped up for the skidding Chiefs in the nick of time, Friday afternoon.
Arellano ace Kent Salado, who tallied only nine points (down from his 17.1 points average), struggled with the defense imposed on him by the Saint Benilde Blazers, but Dela Cruz came to the rescue. The 5-foot-7 point guard from Davao City carried the Chiefs to a come-from-behind win against the College of Saint Benilde, 87-81.
He may be a new face in the NCAA, but he’s been making the rounds in the college basketball scene for quite some time.
After playing for two UAAP teams, and after taking a year off from basketball due to an ACL injury, he is now fitting in perfectly with the run-and-gun type of play of Arellano University, playing 22.6 minutes per contest for Arellano.
“Pagdating ng 2016, ininvite na po ako para mag try out sa Arellano kasi daw patapos na si Jio [Jalalon] so punta ako Arellano,” the 22-year-old, who dropped a career-high 24 points on 9-for-13 shooting, said.
“Running team po sila [Arellano], which is yun po nakasanayan ko kaya nag-fit naman po ako sa system.”
His career-game was not planned according to him, however, as he said that he just needed to step up as the Chiefs were in the midst of a four-game skid.
“Di ko naman po talaga minamadali [opensa ko] pero kanina kinapalan ko na po mukha ko, lagi naman kasi akong nage-extra work kaya confident na rin po ako,” admitted Dela Cruz, who added across his name plus four assists and three rebounds.
When asked about how he feels about the recognition he is receiving now as a rising reinforcement for Salado, he giddily said, “Nako, kung may camera lang, naihi na ako sa kilig. Masaya po ako, kasi si Kent role model ko talaga siya, hinahangaan ko yan.
“Blessing lang po talaga yung mga umaabot na score ko, papulot pulot, three points.”
And coach Jerry Codinera hopes that this is just the beginning for his recruit.
“Na-surprise ako sa performance niya. Sana maging consistent na ito,” Codinera remarked about his rookie.
