After he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during one of Gilas Pilipinas’ practices back in 2017, Art Dela Cruz did not expect another invites to the national team.
Since then, the only thing that the Barangay Ginebra forward has cared about is regaining his old form.
“Hindi na. Actually hindi ko na ine-expect after nun. Wala na. Ang pinaka-focus ko is makabalik lang ako sa dati kong form,” he said.
“Hanggang ngayon, dun pa rin ako sa form ko naka-focus.”
And so it surprised him when coach Tim Cone included him in the six-man Ginebra core that will lead Gilas Pilipinas in the 30th Southeast Asian Games taking place here in Manila.
“From being injured, parang wala na ‘kong kumpiyansa sa sarili, tapos naging parang regular sa rotation niya. ‘Di rin ako nag-expect na mapupunta rito the second time around,” Dela Cruz said.
For the 27-year-old Dela Cruz, he’s overwhelmed not just from playing alongside some of the PBA’s finest, but from being on the national team in itself.
‘Hindi ko ine-expect na magiging kakampi ko sina June Mar [Fajardo], sina Jayson [Castro]. Nakaka-overwhelm din na nakakasama sila,” said the six-year pro out of San Beda.
“Masaya kasi experience ‘to … Thankful ako na nakasama ako sa pool na ‘to.“
Dela Cruz is truly grateful for Cone for this stint. And he believes it will spike up his confidence, which he says he needs as he looks to regain his form.
“Oo sobra. Sobrang nakakataas ng kumpiyansa ‘to,” he said. “Gilas na ‘to. Hindi lahat nakalakuha ng ganitong opportunity. Laking bagay na naging part ako kasi kinukuha ko pa ‘yung groove ko.
“And then nakasama ako rito, so ang laking boost sa akin nito kasi makaka-kuha pa ‘ko ng mga tips sa mga teammates ko eh. Kumbaga tinataas nila. Kumpiyansa nga. ‘Yun nga,” he continued.
“All along, ‘yun lang talaga hinahanap ko — confidence sa sarili.”
