Arthur dela Cruz explained

Arthur Dela Cruz
Number:18
Position:Small forward / power forward
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lb:210
League:MPBL
Team:Davao Occidental Tigers
Birth Date:9 May 1992
Birth Place:San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines
Nationality:Filipino
High School:San Beda College (Taytay, Rizal)
College:Ateneo (2010)
San Beda (2012–2015)
Draft Year Pba:2015
Draft Round Pba:1
Draft Pick Pba:9
Draft Team Pba:Blackwater Elite
Career Start:2015
Years1:2015–2017
Team1:Blackwater Elite
Years2:2017–2020
Team2:Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Years3:2021–2023
Team3:NorthPort Batang Pier
Years4:2023–present
Team4:Davao Occidental Tigers
Awards:

Arthur A. Dela Cruz Jr. (born May 9, 1992) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Davao Occidental Tigers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Early life and high-school career

Dela Cruz started playing basketball when he was in 4th grade at St. Mary’s Academy in Bulacan. It was his father, Arturo dela Cruz Sr., known as Art Dela Cruz, himself a former PBA player, who first introduced him to the sport. In high school, he played as power forward of the San Beda Red Cubs.[1]

College career

Dela Cruz first attended college at the Ateneo de Manila University for one year. He suited up for the Blue Eagles as a rookie in 2010 and played a key role in their campaign, when the Blue Eagles won the title that year. The following year, he returned to his high school alma mater, San Beda College, served one year of residency before finally seeing action for the Red Lions in 2012.[2] Initially, he was a backup to Jake Pascual, but he took the starting "4" slot when Pascual already played out his college eligibility in 2013. In that same year, the Red Lions won their fourth straight title at the expense of Letran, when he was awarded the Finals MVP.[3] In 2015, he led the Red Lions to the Finals once again, only to lose in three games at the expense of the Letran Knights. In his last collegiate game, he finished with a team-high 15 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 13 boards and was two assists shy of a triple-double, on top of two blocks and one steal in 34 minutes in the deciding Game Three.[4]

Professional career

Dela Cruz was picked ninth overall by the Blackwater Elite of the Philippine Basketball Association in the 2015 PBA draft.[5] On October 30, 2015, he signed the two-year rookie deal with Blackwater.[6]

On August 31, 2017, dela Cruz, along with Raymond Aguilar, was traded to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for Chris Ellis and Dave Marcelo.[7]

On November 9, 2021, he was traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier for Sidney Onwubere.[8] He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2022–23 PBA season.[9]

PBA career statistics

As of the end of 2022–23 season[10]

Season-by-season averages

|-| align=left | | align=left | Blackwater| 32 || 26.2 || .506 || .220 || .662 || 4.7 || 2.2 || 1.7 || .2 || 11.8|-| align=left | | align=left | Blackwater| 12 || 31.1 || .497 || .000 || .682 || 7.2 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .1 || 14.3|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 2 || 9.9 || .286 || .000 || .500 || 3.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.5|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 32 || 17.4 || .500 || .235 || .719 || 3.0 || 1.4 || .8 || .1 || 6.3|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 5 || 10.7 || .286 || .000 || .600 || 2.0 || .2 || .2 || .0 || 2.2|-| align=left | | align=left | NorthPort| 19 || 9.0 || .479 || .000 || .857 || 1.4 || .6 || .4 || .0 || 3.1|-class=sortbottom| align=center colspan=2 | Career| 102 || 19.7 || .494 || .208 || .691 || 3.7 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .1 || 8.1

Personal life

Dela Cruz is the son of former PBA player and current Terra Firma Dyip assistant coach Arturo dela Cruz. He took up AB in Communications in San Beda College and his long-term plan is to help his mother with their family business in Bulacan.

Notes and References

  1. News: Carpio . Jillian . Roaring Red Lion: Art dela Cruz . . September 28, 2013 . August 26, 2015 .
  2. News: Naredo . Camille B. . San Beda's Dela Cruz reflects on time with Ateneo . ABS-CBN News . June 26, 2015 . August 26, 2015 .
  3. News: Flores . Celest R. . Dela Cruz shines in MVP-worthy performance before proud dad . . November 16, 2013 . August 26, 2015 .
  4. News: Sacamos . Karlo . Art dela Cruz insists he played best for San Beda: 'I didn't do anything na nag-benta o nag-relax' . Spin.ph . October 29, 2015 . October 29, 2015 .
  5. News: Moala Tautuaa goes first overall in 2015 PBA Draft . . August 23, 2015 . August 23, 2015 .
  6. News: Joble . Rey . San Beda's Art Dela Cruz signs two-year deal with PBA club Blackwater . InterAksyon . October 30, 2015 . October 30, 2015.
  7. Web site: Ginebra trades Chris Ellis to Blackwater for Art dela Cruz. Spin.ph.
  8. Web site: NorthPort sends Sidney Onwubere to Ginebra for Art dela Cruz Jr.. www.pba.ph.
  9. Web site: Ramos. Gerry. Art Dela Cruz an unrestricted free agent after parting ways with NorthPort. Spin.ph. June 23, 2023. June 23, 2023.
  10. https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Arthur-Dela-Cruz/Summary/100012#Internationale