Celino Cruz
Encyclopedia
Celino Cruz is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association
who currently plays for the Powerade Tigers. He was drafted by the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals nineteenth overall in 2002.
came into the season and predicted to finish not higher than sixth. But, the Tamaraws won an unexpected UAAP Championship.
Cruz' sophomore season was his breakout year. He led the Tammaraws to their second consecutive UAAP Championship where he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 2001–2002 season saw Cruz establish himself as one of the top amateur players in the nation. He was the leader of the team and was considered a "coach on the floor." He also received Player of the Year and the Silver Basketball award, and was named to the Mythical Second Team. Cruz then decided to leave college early after his junior year to play in the PBA
.
This former FEU Tamaraw
stalwart is a deadly left-handed shooter. He is best known for his clutch plays. He started his career as a rookie with the defunct Shell Turbo Chargers
in 2004-05. He also played for the Red Bull Barako before being traded to the Burger King Whoopers
and then the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.
, Rafi Reavis
, and the rights to 2009
8th pick overall Chris Timberlake
for Enrico Villanueva
, Rich Alvarez
, Celino Cruz, and Paolo Bugia
of Purefoods. Burger King acted as the conduit team, trading Pocholo Villanueva
to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks.
. Days after, he was signed by the Powerade Tigers as a free agent.
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
who currently plays for the Powerade Tigers. He was drafted by the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals nineteenth overall in 2002.
College
In freshman, the 1999–2000 season, Cruz was already a starter on a relatively unheralded team. The FEU TamarawsFEU Tamaraws
The FEU Tamaraws is the collegiate men's varsity team of Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines...
came into the season and predicted to finish not higher than sixth. But, the Tamaraws won an unexpected UAAP Championship.
Cruz' sophomore season was his breakout year. He led the Tammaraws to their second consecutive UAAP Championship where he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament.
The 2001–2002 season saw Cruz establish himself as one of the top amateur players in the nation. He was the leader of the team and was considered a "coach on the floor." He also received Player of the Year and the Silver Basketball award, and was named to the Mythical Second Team. Cruz then decided to leave college early after his junior year to play in the PBA
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
.
This former FEU Tamaraw
FEU Tamaraws
The FEU Tamaraws is the collegiate men's varsity team of Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines...
stalwart is a deadly left-handed shooter. He is best known for his clutch plays. He started his career as a rookie with the defunct Shell Turbo Chargers
Shell Turbo Chargers
The Shell Turbo Chargers is a former Philippine Basketball Association team under the ownership of Pilipinas Shell Corporation. Shell has been a member of the PBA since 1985 until 2005 when the team filed for a leave of absence after the season. Shell sold its franchise to PBL team Welcoat Paints...
in 2004-05. He also played for the Red Bull Barako before being traded to the Burger King Whoopers
Air21 Express
The Barako Bull Energy is a Philippine Basketball Association team that began in 2002.Barako Bull is owned by Energy Food and Drinks Inc., a subsidiary of the Linaheim Corporate Services, owners of the defunct Laguna Lakers of the Metropolitan Basketball Association...
and then the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.
Ginebra
Barangay Ginebra traded Paul ArtadiPaul Artadi
Paul Anthony Dy Artadi is a professional Filipino basketball player for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
, Rafi Reavis
Rafi Reavis
Rafael Pangilinan "Rafi" Reavis is a Filipino-American professional basketball player currently playing for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is well-known for his good shotblocking abilities...
, and the rights to 2009
2009 PBA Draft
The 2009 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 2, 2009. The Burger King Whoppers selected Japeth Aguilar of the Ateneo de Manila University and Western...
8th pick overall Chris Timberlake
Chris Timberlake
Chris Timberlake is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippines who currently plays for the Meralco Bolts...
for Enrico Villanueva
Enrico Villanueva
Jose Enrico P. Villanueva , better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Rich Alvarez
Rich Alvarez
Richard D. "Rich" Alvarez is a Filipino professional basketball player and currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Alvarez was the first overall pick of 2004 PBA Draft by the Shell Turbo Chargers...
, Celino Cruz, and Paolo Bugia
Paolo Bugia
Ramon Paolo V. Bugia is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who plays for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He was drafted seventeenth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA Draft.In his rookie year, He averaged 4.0 points per game and 2.6 rebounds...
of Purefoods. Burger King acted as the conduit team, trading Pocholo Villanueva
Pocholo Villanueva
Pocholo Iñigo Villanueva or better known as Cholo Villanueva is a former Filipino Professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He last played for the Burger King Whoppers. He was drafted thirteenth overall by the Air21 Express in the 2008 PBA Draft...
to Ginebra and acquiring the rights to 2009 Rookie draft eighteenth pick Orlando Daroya and future picks.
Powerade
At the end of the 2009-10 PBA season, he was released by the Barangay Ginebra KingsBarangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
. Days after, he was signed by the Powerade Tigers as a free agent.