Back to the place he once called home, JR Dela Cruz is now tasked to lead the Mapua University Red Robins back to the top of NCAA juniors basketball.
Dela Cruz has replaced Yong Garcia as the Red Robins head coach as he looks to replicate what he achieved more than two decades ago when he helped the school capture the high school basketball title in 1998 and 2000.
"I won with Red Robins twice nu’ng 2000 and also nu’ng ’98. Tapos nag-FEU ako, lumipat na ako for college and nag-champion din ako doon nu'ng 2005," Dela Cruz shared on Tuesday.
"Based ako sa Pampanga, pero nu’ng tinawag ako ‘yung puso ko at isip ko nasa Mapua na."
Dela Cruz runs the Hustle Basketball Skills Lab, a training facility dedicated to helping players from the amateur and professional ranks improve their basketball skills. The former Mapua standout also oversees several clubs and joins various commercial leagues, which eventually paved the way for his Mapua homecoming.
In one of his games last year, Garcia was watching and asked him if he's interested in joining the former's coaching staff for Red Robins.
Dela Cruz didn't hesitate at all and came back home immediately.
"Actually hindi ako part ng coaching staff ni Coach Yong, nakita lang niya ako sa mga commercial leagues kasi I have my own basketball school, it’s called Hustle Basketball Skills Lab so I train UAAP and NCAA players and also pros," Dela Cruz added.
"And sumasali rin ako sa mga commercial leagues, nagkikita kami ni coach Yong doon. Ang relationship namin before ay hi and hello lang, ‘yun pala nanonood siya sa akin sa mga games ko. Nu’ng December, tinawagan niya ako na ‘coach, gusto mo bang maging head coach ng Mapua?’ Sabi ko sige."
In Mapua's second game this Season 100, Dela Cruz formally assumed the head coaching role as Garcia made a leap to call the shots for Abra in the MPBL.
And so far, the Red Robins look good under Dela Cruz' tutelage.
They recently pulled off a 71-69 upset victory against San Beda University, handing the Red Cubs their first loss of the season to improve to 2-2. But Dela Cruz isn't letting the huge win take their minds off their ultimate goal of winning the title.
The Red Robins are hoping to capture the crown again after seven years.
"One game at a time, respect your opponents. Hindi porke tinalo natin ‘yung number one magiging complacent na tayo, dapat trabahuhin pa rin natin," he said.
"Kung ano ‘yung preparation at character natin facing san Beda dapat gano’n pa rin tayo sa ibang teams."
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
