AT a time when Filipino players aspire to take their acts overseas and skip the PBA draft, a foreign-based pro is taking the opposite route.
Doha resident Jacey Kleon Cruz is leaving his playing career in Qatar to go home and pursue his dream of seeing action in Asia’s first-ever play-for-pay league by applying for the coming PBA Rookie Draft set on Sept. 7.
Cruz, 21, is a sophomore student at Qatar University where he’s taking up Business Finance, but at the same time, suits up for the Qatar Sports Club basketball team in the domestic tournament Emir of Qatar Cup.
READ This 16-year old Pinoy plays with the giants in Qatar league
In his latest stint with the club, he averaged 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while shooting a high 38 percent from three-point region to rank among the Top 10 in terms of three-point shooting percentage in the league.
He actually began his career as a 16-year old recruit of Al Rayyan, considered as one of the most accomplished basketball clubs in Qatar.
The 5-foot-9 guard was initially part of the team’s U16 developmental team, before being elevated to the senior roster as its youngest member after impressing the team’s coaching staff.
Cruz chases PBA dream
Yet, despite his relative career success in Doha, Cruz dreams of taking a shot at playing in the PBA, which celebrates its golden season this year.
“Katulad ng lahat ng batang Pinoy na pangarap maglaro sa PBA,” said his father Melvin Cruz of Jacey’s career plan, which comes on the heels of other Filipino rookie prospects leaving the country and trying their fortune in leagues in Japan, South Korea, and Chinese Taipei.
Incidentally, the young cager once joined the PiBAQ Junior Falcons Basketball camp of coach Francis Mercado, a former San Beda stalwart who was a second-round pick of Red Bull in the 2004 PBA draft.
Cruz, who will be represented by Danny Espiritu and his son Marvin, is set to come over to Manila this week to apply for the draft, and at the same time, attend available pre-draft workouts with several teams.
Born in Marikina City to Filipino parents (father is from Marikina, and mother is from Calumpit, Bulacan), Cruz and his family went to Doha in 2010 and has been based there until now.
It was in the West Asia country where he eventually learned and began playing basketball.
Although playing as a guard, Cruz idolizes San Miguel big man and eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo, who he gets to personally watch in the PBA whenever the family visits the country, and in Qatar itself when Gilas Pilipinas saw action during the Doha Invitational Cup last February.
Not too long from now, he may just get the chance to share the court with Fajardo should Cruz realize his dream of playing in the PBA.
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