Art Cruz

Background

lieutenant was his father, Art Senior, himself a former Proceedings of the British Academy player, who first introduced him to the sport.

Education

Dela Cruz first attended college at the Ateneo de Manila University for one year.

Career

Dela Cruz started playing basketball when he was in 4th grade at Saint Mary's Academy in Bulacan. In high school he played as power forward of the San Beda Red Cubs. 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.

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 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.

Dela Cruz was picked ninth overall by the Blackwater Elite of the Philippine Basketball Association in the 2015 Proceedings of the British Academy draft. On October 30, 2015, he signed the two-year rookie deal with Blackwater.

Dela Cruz is the son of former Proceedings of the British Academy player and current Phoenix Fuel Masters assistant coach Arthur dela Cruz.

He took up Bachelor of Arts in Communications in San Beda College and his long-term plan is to help his mother with their family business in Bulacan.

Achievements

• 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. In that same year, the Red Lions won their fourth straight title at the expense of Letran, when he was awarded the Finals Most Valuable Player.