EVER since moving up to the seniors level, expectations have always been high on Mark Gojo Cruz.
After a stellar high school career with the Perpetual Junior Altas, all eyes were on the 6-foot combo guard in his rookie year last season and he delivered as he led the Altas in scoring with 12.7 points per game to go along 5.3 boards, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals.
Entering year two, Gojo Cruz responsibilities just got a whole lot bigger for coach Olsen Racela, as not only is he simply a scorer now – he’s also tasked to defend the opposing team’s best player – evident when he took the challenge of guarding San Sebastian’s Paeng Are and Lyceum’s Villegas in the Altas first two games which they won.
“Ang gusto ko kay Gojo, he’s a two-way player,” Perpetual coach Olsen Racela said after the Altas’ 73-61 win over the Pirates on Sunday.
“Siya ang dumepensa kay Villegas din tapos he played 28 minutes tapos sa offense din naka-contribute siya. That’s what I like about him.”
But that doesn’t mean that his numbers on the offensive end are taking a hit. In fact, it just got better as after two games he’s still leading the Altas in scoring with 16.5 points a night to go along with three rebounds, three assists and 1.5 steals per game.
Gojo Cruz isn’t shying away from the responsibilities, in fact he’s embracing it, seeing that despite being surrounded by veterans a lot already falls on him.
“Ineembrace at ineenjoy talaga kasi ano e, sobrang sarap sa feeling na sophomore season ko palang, yung tiwala ng coaches and teammates ko binibigay talaga nila sakin. Tatrabahuhin ko din naman para masuklian ko yun,” Gojo Cruz said.
In fact, he was actually critical of his game against the Pirates with his main assignment in Villegas still firing 18 points in the loss.
“Hindi ko naman talaga hinahabol yung offense e. Sakin nga binigay ni coach Olsen si Renz pero yun nga nakadami [parin] so sabi ko kailangan ko bumawi,” he shared.
Limitless Gojo
From being a mere scorer, to his transition to a two-way star, sky’s the limit for this 21-year-old if coach Olsen’s to be asked.
He’s already shown the capability of scoring and stopping just two games into the season – and the next step for him will actually be the challenge – being the main facilitator of this Perpetual side.
“He still has a lot to learn, we’re trying to move him to the point guard position also so that’s part of his growth,” Racela said.
Talk about pressure.
While there’s an immense pressure for Gojo Cruz to continuously expand his game, to be tasked by his coach – who also happens to be one of the greatest point guards in Philippine basketball history – to transition into being a playmaker is certainly the biggest challenge he has to tackle.
But instead of being pressured, what he feels is gratitude. Thankful to learn under one of the best ever to do it, and thankful that his coach and his teammates see his potential to greatness.
“Sobrang grateful ko din kasi yung knowledge na natutunan ko sa kanya. Sobrang sarap sa feeling na isa ako doon [sa inaasahan niya] kahit sophomore palang ako,” he said.
“Hindi nga rin ako sanay mag-point guard e and yun talaga, inembrace ko lang talaga yung pagiging point guard at hopefully maka-create ako sa ibang teammates.”
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