ARJAN dela Cruz has been ruled out of the NCAA Season 95 seniors' basketball tournament after a freak knee injury in San Sebastian's game against Arellano on Friday.
Golden Stags coach Egay Macaraya confirmed the news, sharing that the second-year playmaker suffered a displacement of his patella in his left knee.
Dela Cruz' recovery time is set at five to six weeks if there's no need for operations, but chances are he won't be with San Sebastian as it attempts to make it back to the Final Four this year.
He averaged 3.7 points, 2.3 assists and 1.6 rebounds in the first round.
Dela Cruz' absence now puts the spotlight on younger guys Alex Desoyo and Michael Are to step up as the Golden Stags' backup point guard behind sharpshooter RK Ilagan.
San Sebastian entered the second round is a four-way logjam at second place with Lyceum, Letran and St. Benilde at 6-3.
The Golden Stags return to action on Thursday against the Blazers.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
