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SLAM Rising Stars: Arjan Dela Cruz

SLAM Rising Stars: Arjan Dela Cruz

Name: Arjan Dela Cruz

Height: 5-9 ½”

Weight: 158 lbs

Age: 17

High School: Hope Christian High School

Committed to: NU

Awards won: Champion, 43rd Metro Manila Tiong Lian Basketball Association

Pregame Ritual: Cheeseburger and fries, and then high-five everyone when the team takes the floor. “Para happy!”

Song on repeat: Worship Songs from Hillsong United

In-Game Kicks: Nike Hyperdunk 2013

Postgame Kicks: Nike Janoski

Needs work on: Playmaking

Projection: thinner but taller version of former UP Maroon Mike Gamboa

In his civvies and in Nike Janoskis, you’d think Arjan Dela Cruz is an average joe. But put the ball in his hands and you’ll see that the kid is a dynamo. He’s fast with a tight handle, has a good-looking teardrop, and has decent hangtime when he decides to attack the rim. While he’s not the most pure shooter among guards, Arjan has his hot streaks, once scoring 29 points in a title clinching game in high school to go along with 11 rebounds against then Xavier School standout Kyles Lao.

At 5’9 1/2″ in his playing shoes Arjan could get away with playing the 2 for Hope Christian High School, but the NU Bulldogs will have a plethora of big guards in their fold come UAAP Season 77, one of them being the solidly built PG Ven Diputado from San Beda High School. Arjan realizes he needs to find get used to the 1 pronto. “I’ll be coming in with some very strong guards. I need to get stronger without sacrificing my speed, and I need to learn how to run a team better.” In the Rising Stars scrimmage, Arjan attacked the basket early and often, and then set the table later for his teammates. On the break, while he did have one good bounce pass to a trailing teammate for a bucket, I remember Arjan trying to force the issue when he could have dropped dimes to his running mates. I guess you can’t take the scorer out of the kid, but I’m sure Arjan will be working on his PG playmaking skills before college ball season starts again if he wants to make the Bulldogs opening day UAAP lineup.

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