After four fruitful years of playing in the amateur ranks, CafeFrance Bakers Team Captain Carl Cruz has decided to test the waters of the professional basketball scene by declaring himself eligible in this year’s Philippine Basketball Association Draft.
The six-foot-four forward shared to Tiebreaker Times that he was supposed to join the draft back in 2014, but challenges – injuries in particular – stalled the former Tamaraw’s decision to try his luck in the professional level.
“Actually after ng career ko sa UAAP, plano ko na magpa-draft,” said the three-time UAAP silver medalist. “Unfortunately, na-ACL ako. Then halos lahat ng dumating [na bagay] sa’kin, puro negative.”
However, despite the obstacles he stumbled on, Cruz remained positive, since such life events only shaped him to become a better version of himself, especially on the hardwood.
Carl Cruz is averaging 16ppg with Cafe France during its 2016 Foundation Cup campaign [PBA IMAGES]
CafeFrance head coach Egay Macaraya thinks that his valuable stalwart’s consistent showings will be a key factor for Cruz to be noticed by scouts.
“Consistent siya sa games, so I guess makikita ng coaches na he’s ready for the PBA,” he said. “We are very happy na pupunta siya sa PBA.”
Macaraya has high hopes for Cruz in this year’s draft. “Kung ako ang tatanungin, he’s a good first-rounder,” said the San Sebastian Stags head coach.
For his pro league aspirations, Cruz admitted that, if ever things fall into place for him, he wishes to suit up for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, but quickly followed up that his true desire is to be able to sign a rookie deal with whichever team picks him.
“Basta maka-pirma lang ng kontrata, yun lang talaga iniisip ko. Kasi may mga nada-draft naman na hindi nakakapirma, may mga undrafted na sila pa ang nakakapirma. ‘Di mo rin talaga masasabi,” he stated.
When asked what he will miss the most if ever he goes professional successfully, Cruz said that it is his experience all throughout the four years of his stay that he will always remember.
The defending PBA D-League Foundation Cup champions Cafe France-CEU Bakers
“’Yung experience ko rito. At siyempre, yung mga nakasama ko rito na galing ibang schools, lalo na rito sa CEU. Second family ko na rin ‘to after ng FEU, so yung mga bonding namin, yun ang nakakamiss,” said Cruz, who suited up for seven commercial teams – Cebuana Lhuillier, Informatics, Fruitas, MJM, FEU-NRMF, Euro-Med and CafeFrance — in the course of his four-year amateur stint.
But before he fully shifts his focus in showcasing himself in the Draft Combine and possibly bidding goodbye to amateur basketball, Cruz’s main goal is to win it all for CafeFrance – the franchise that helped him hone his game and regain his confidence.
“Gusto ko mag-champion. Sa five years ko sa UAAP, tatlong runner-up [finishes] lang ako. Tapos last conference dito sa D-League, talo rin ako. Runner-up na naman. So ngayon talaga, I’m eager na makapag-champion bago man lang maka-akyat sa taas, if ever,” he ended.
