Rookie Art dela Cruz stays upbeat amid Elite woes

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

As herculean as Art dela Cruz’ efforts may be, he would be the first to admit that it’s still different having an import around.

“Sobrang hirap kasi wala kaming import eh,” dela Cruz said. “Kahit na anong tulak ko sa ilalim, advantage talaga kapag mayroon kang malaki sa loob eh. Walang tutulong sa akin. Kahit na tao ko yung import, walang tutulong sa iyo sa gilid, na parang makakapagpa-hesitate sa kalabang import para umatake.”

The rookie forward unloaded 12 points in the first quarter, but could not sustain his hot streak as the import-less Blackwater fell anew to Alaska, 107-87, on Sunday.

Missing reinforcement Eric Dawson for the second time in three games, Blackwater is now in danger of being the first team to be eliminated in the 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup.

At 1-7, the Elite are left with no room for error as they try to move on from the Dawson debacle.

“Sabi ni coach sa amin na just play the game. Di naman namin gusto na wala kaming import. Di naman namin gusto na nasa huli kami. Wala kaming import eh, yun naman talaga yung problema,” dela Cruz said. “Kahit anong galing namin sa offense, ang kalaban namin, magaling sa defensive side.”

Though Blackwater fell to its sixth straight defeat, dela Cruz made it clear that the team is still keeping an optimistic outlook with three games left in its schedule.

“Hindi na namin iniisip yung mga talo before. Every game, we just need to play our game kasi pag iniisip mo yun, lalo kang mada-down,” he said. “We’re just thinking the positive way, sabi ni coach na we should stay together whatever happens.”

Blackwater takes on Phoenix on Sept. 7 at Ynares Center, Antipolo.