Carl Bryan Cruz is Alaska’s pick in the Gilas Round. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
If there’s one guy from the rookie pool who’s undoubtedly going to mesh together well with Alaska’s grit and grind duo of Calvin Abueva and Vic Manuel, it’s Carl Bryan Cruz.
Either by sheer luck or pure coincidence, the Aces came away with the Far Eastern U banger in the Gilas round of the 2016 PBA Rookie Draft.
Alaska assistant coach Louie Alas believes the same, saying the Aces were impressed by what they saw when Cruz was called for a workout a day before the Draft day.
“We liked what we saw. He’s a stretch four who can run the floor at marunong naman dumepensa. We’re very satisfied with him,” said coach Alex Compton’s lead deputy. “Nakikita ko na fit sya sa system ni coach Alex.”
Known as a bruiser in his collegiate days, Cruz transformed himself into a reliable contributor on the offensive end while retaining his hard defense when he suited up for Cafe France in the PBA D-League. That knack on defense is what Cruz sees as his ticket to fitting well with the Aces.
“Defensive team ang Alaska. Ako naman, college days pa, magaling na talaga ako dumepensa so feeling ko yun ang maitutulong ko sa kanila,” he said.
Though Cruz admits that Abueva and Manuel are on a whole different level, what he’d like to get from his older teammates is the infectious intensity they bring whenever they step on the court.
“Nae-excite naman ako na maging kakampi sila kasi pinapanood ko lang sila noong college ako. Ngayon, magiging kakampi ko na sila,” he said. “Sana ma-adapt ko lang yung pagiging energetic nila sa loob ng court.”