Happy Birthday, Anthony Bryan “Tony” Dela Cruz ( Aug 24 )

Happy Birthday, Anthony Bryan “Tony” Dela Cruz

1999 PBA Rookie Draft Direct Hire
3x PBA champion
2006 PBA Sportsmanship Awardee
2005 PBA Mythical Second Team member 
UC Irvine Anteaters forward

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

AT a big gathering outside of the basketball court, A Fil-American sitting at the table reserved for Shel Velocity made heads turn. The guy was Anthony dela Cruz, a 6-5 forward who was recruited by the Zoommasters as their direct-hire Fil-American under the scheme imposed by the Philippine Basketball Association last year. Dela Cruz, stands out not only because of his height and his complexion but moreso because of his good looks. Some of those who attended the press launching of the 26 PBA season at the Century Park Hotel last Thursday who didn't know him started asking around in hushed voices "Sino ba 'yan? Magaling ba 'yan? Those same questions had actually been asked more than a month ago when dela Cruz first blew into town to attend the 2000 Annual Draft of the PBA at the Glorietta Park in Makati City. Dela Cruz, whose father Manny dela Cruz studied at the Far Eastern University and who has an uncle who serves as a colonel in the Philippine Air Force, isn't the flashy type. He has a decent outside shot. He could play the point. He could operate at low post. He could help out in rebounds. It's sort of a little bit of this and a little bit of that. And Shell Velocity coach Perry Ronquillo has liked what he has seen so far. The 6-5 dela Cruz, who is at home at the off-guard position, will fill the spot vacated by Victor Pablo who has moved over to Mobiline. Ronquillo describes him as "young and lacking in experience but could be the cornerstone of Shell's future." Dela Cruz is actually a friend of Alaska Milk's Don Carlos Allado. He would have returned to the Philippines just about the same time that Allado did and probably played for De La Salle, too. In fact, he had come over along with several Fil American friends and played a series of exhibition games with the Green Archers and the San Beda Red Lions back in 1995. But he wanted to finish his studies in the States where he played volleyball and basketball for Carson High School. Volleball was actually his first love and he was Most Valuable Player in an all-city meet in California. Gradually, he shifted his concentration to basketball and played for the University of California at Irvine. He says he had an opportunity to play against New Jersey Nets' Keith Van Horn during his freshman year and gushed "He's unstoppable." Late last year, Allado's father Caloy, who once played basketball for the University of the Philippines, recommended dela Cruz to Shell Velocity team manager Bobby Villarosa who, along with assistant coach Joey Guanio, flew to the States to personally take a look at their prospect. Both Villarosa and Guanio were quickly impressed that they never wanted to let dela Cruz go despite the fact that dela Cruz asked that he be allowed to finish his studies first before returning to the Philippines. In fact, in signing up dela Cruz to an initial three-year deal, Shell agreed to allow the Fil-American to return to the States to complete his degree on Sociology. This means dela Cruz will only play two conference a year for the first two years before being able to focus fulltime on Shell in 2000. In the 26 season of the PBA, dela Cruz will be around for only the AllFilipino and the Governor's Cup. He will miss the Commissioners' Cup because he'll be back facing his books. Same holds true next year. "We admire people who value education. We cannot force Anthony to quit studying or make a choice between that and basketball because that would not be good for him as a person. We will respect his decision and make some adjustments to plug the holes in his absence," said Shell Velocity coach Perry Ronquillo. Aside from being unlike other athletes who tend to forget about their studies once they hit paydirt, dela Cruz is also unlike other youngsters who go for the flashy type of basketball and noisy tyep of music. Believe it or not, his basketball idol is Pete Maravich while he sings along with Frank Sinatra. There is perhaps no youngster these days who could idolize both Maravich and Sinatra at the same time.