Coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Sareyyet Ramallah on Saturday evening, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas needed a spark to revitalize its campaign as it enters the crucial stages of the group round.
And who better than Carl Cruz to lift the team out of its funk, a player who has made the rounds for Gilas Pilipinas the past three months.
After going just 4-for-14 from the field to average a measly 5.0 points per game, the 26-year-old went lights-out from downtown, knocking down eight of his 11 three-point attempts for a Chooks-to-Go-high of 28 points.
“Finally, naka-shoot na rin ako ng three-points ko. Nung first two games kasi nag-struggle ako sa shooting ko,” admitted Cruz after Chooks-to-Go’s 115-102 win over Mono Vampire. “This game, nakuha ko yung stroke at footwork ko.
“Nalabas ko na rin laro ko.”
Besides overcoming his personal struggle, the 6-foot-4 stretch forward was glad to see how this quickly-formed club team had reacted to a loss.
“Finally, naka-bounce back kami kasi importante talaga itong game na ito sa amin. Crucial itong game na ito sa amin para makapasok sa quarterfinals,” Cruz pointed out. “Good thing nag-click yung outside shooting namin at sixty percent kami sa field goal namin.
“Kumpyansa ito sa amin going into the next game.”
With a day off on Monday, Carl Cruz and the rest of Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas will look to rest its tired bodies before facing Iranian club team Petrochimi on Tuesday, September 26.
