Alaska rookie Cruz turns heads in PBA debut

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Carl Bryan Cruz may have the least notoriety of the Gilas players selected in the PBA Special Draft but it only took his debut for Alaska to turn heads.

In a disappointing loss to 99-97 loss to NLEX at Smart Araneta Coliseum, Cruz went off for 20 points, 14 rebounds, and two steals, and he did it all without a hunch that he’ll get some heavy minutes.

“Actually I wasn’t expecting to get any minutes because I’m just a rookie,” said Cruz in Filipino. “But I’m always prepared if coach calls my number.”

Cruz wasn’t really a star during his collegiate career with Far Eastern University averaging just more than four points and three rebounds across four years.

He left the Tamaraws after Season 77 of the UAAP and it was with Café France in the PBA D-League that he left his mark and drew the attention of scouts before he became an integral part of the Gilas pool.

Cruz added there is no competition between him and his teammates in Gilas when they became professionals and his double-double performance in his debut is just a testament to his hard work as a basketball player.

“There’s no competition, I’m just focused on my career here in the PBA,” said Cruz.