24 hours after being booted out of the Aspirants’ Cup semifinals, 5-foot-5 Mark Cruz is now set to make a return to the pros via the Blackwater Elite, Wednesday afternoon.
Reports have been circulating for weeks now that the 24-year-old Letran product, the 30th pick of the Star Hotshots in the 2015 Draft, was about to return to the PBA. However, his commitment with the Tanduay Rhum Masters delayed his trip.
The 24-year-old gunslinger is coming off a remarkable stint with the Rhum Masters in the D-League, having helped anchor the Lawrence Chongson-mentored squad reach the Aspirants’ Cup semifinals but lost to Cignal in three games.
Cruz, whose last stop in the pros had been with the Phoenix Fuel Masters during the Governors Cup, posted notable norms of 16.2 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in the D-League at the end of their quarterfinal affair with AMA Online Education.
The one-time NCAA champion’s addition to the Elite will further enhance their backcourt, that showcases the likes of Denok Miranda, John Pinto, and Roi Sumang.
