Rookie Mark Gojo Cruz has been making his mark in the NCAA as he continues to be one of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA's leaders in their ongoing campaign in Season 100.
After ten games, the rookie has already posted averages of 13.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals as the ALTAs continue to find their form with a 4-6 card after the second round opener.
While Gojo Cruz has been fulfilling one of his childhood dreams, the rising star of Perpetual could not help but remember his late brother who supported him when he was still figuring out his path.
In Perpetual's game against Emilio Aguinaldo College, Gojo Cruz' shoes has a patch with the letters 'MJ' written on it which he said is his dedication to his late brother.
"'Yung kapatid ko na siya 'yung parang naging bestfriend ko talaga sa lahat ng kapatid ko. Namatay siya noong 2012. Tapos every game, parang dine-dedicate ko sa kanya kasi miss na miss ko na siya," Gojo Cruz told GMA News Online.
"Sinasabi ko sa sarili ko na gagawin ko lahat ng best ko para sa kanya para kahit nasa taas siya... gusto ko kasi maging proud siya sa akin."
Gojo Cruz' brother MJ passed away in 2012 due to pneumonia. He was 18 years old, while the Perpetual rookie was eight years old then.
"Kasi nung bata kami ito pinag-uusapan namin na balang araw, hopefully, sa family namin may isang maglalaro sa malalaking liga," the rookie said.
"Pinapakita ko lang sa kanya kasi alam kong gina-guide niya ako eh. Alam kong nasa paligid ko lang siya."
The youngest of six siblings, Gojo Cruz shared that it was also his late brother, the fourth child in their family, who taught him some important life lessons.
"Sobrang nabigla ako kasi parang siya kasama ko sa buong pagkabata ko eh. 'Pag may nakakaaway ako sa amin, kunyari away-bata, pinagtatanggol niya ako e," he recalled.
"Ang sakit nung paglaki ko wala siya so nalulungkot ako and sana proud siya sa akin."
—GMA Integrated News
