Art dela Cruz. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson
Bad news for Ginebra as Joe Devance is out until February after finally undergoing surgery on his injured foot.
But the good news is, Art dela Cruz is more than ready to step up in Devance’s absence as he makes his debut for the crowd favorites.
This early, head coach Tim Cone is excited to deal with the good problem that the versatile Dela Cruz brings to the table.
“I like Art dela Cruz so much because he’s a playmaker. I was making a joke earlier that he’s so versatile, we don’t know where to play him. We don’t know whether to play him as our point guard, or our off-guard, or our small forward, or the power forward because he can do it all,” he said.
Traded to Ginebra from Blackwater after missing the last two conference due to an Achilles injury, dela Cruz has been tirelessly working his way back to form.
That effort from the 25-year-old forward is not lost on Cone.
“We’re just trying to figure out which one he’s strong at, but I’m really pleased to have him. Art’s role will be very important to help us replace what Joe brings for us because they have similar skills. But we think he’s going to make a big impact on our team,” Cone said.
Dela Cruz, meanwhile, knows how big is the task ahead of him and he’s grateful for the opportunity to perform.
“It’s a huge task, but I’m motivated because my teammates are giving me the confidence and they’re allowing me to play my game,” he said. “I’m thankful to all of them because I have a chance to learn from this team and extend my game.”