Birthday Greeting to Sir Arthur Dela Cruz ( Nov 29 )

ARTHUR DELA CRUZ
Arthur dela Cruz is a Philip Cezar fan, Fact is, dela Cruz wears jersey number 18 for the San Sebastian Stags. And as all basketball fanatics are aware of, Cezar sports jersey number 18 with Crispa. Asked why he idolizes Cezar, Arthur simply says, "Philip is a good defensive player. And he can also score." Simply put, Arthur wants to be another Philip Cezar. At the rate he's going for the San Sebastian Stags, he might just be able to make his dream come true. At 20, Arthur is a sophomore in the SSC line-up. He plays power forward for the Stags. He usually starts out as a center then later assumes the role of forward when SSC coach Orly Castelo fields in 6-5 behemoth Hernanin Demegillo. The 6-2 1/2 Dela Cruz first played basketball in 1979 during his second year at the St. Ann's Academy in Hagonoy, Bulacan. In 1982, he played for the Hagonoy selection during the Bulacan Inter-town tournament. The Hagonoy selection placed second behind Bocaue which fielded several UE and San Sebastian players like Napoleon Ayala and Rolando Roxas. The Bulacan inter-town tournament was the base for the formation of a Bulacan basketball team that competed in the Sama-Sama sa paglalaro, a brainchild of Ambassador Danding Cojuangco. 

Dela Cruz made it to the Bulacan selection coached by Ike Liwanag and ex-pro cager, Caezar Yabut. "I started playing serious basketball only when I was included in the Bulacan Selection. Liwanag and Yabut helped me a lot," remembers Arthur, the second of four kids of Manuel dela Cruz and Emerinciana Mercado. Bulacan placed third behind eventual champion Pampanga and runner-up Nueva Ecija. Teammate Rolando Roxas took dela Cruz to San Sebastian. Dela Cruz impressed Castelo and he was taken in by SSC, However, due to a NCAA policy, Roxas was barred from participating in last year's tournament. All NCAA players who saw action in the Sama-Sama sa Paglalaro were barred from the NCAA. But that rule did not apply on Dela Cruz who was only a rookie in the SSC camp. The rule only applies on players who have previously seen action in the NCAA prior to the Sama-Sama sa Paglalaro. In his rookie year, Arthur started to make waves by registering the most number of shot blocks for the Stags. Hence, for his defensive gems, Arthur was included in last year's mythical team. Arthur feels that with a little luck, San Sebastian might win this year's NCAA crown. "We'll get back at Letran. So far, the unity among the players is tremendous. Barring sudden changes, we might still be 1984 NCAA champions."