Carl Bryan Cruz returns from injury, set to join Blackwater in training

Carl Bryan Cruz is back.

Blackwater head coach Nash Racela shared the good news, saying that the 6-foot-4 slotman will join the team once they get the green light to hold full physical training in Batangas at the end of the week.

Racela added that Cruz had been attending the Bossing’s online workouts the past weeks and has gotten the medical clearance to attend practices with his teammates.

“Yes he joins our zoom workouts and we expect him to train with us as soon as we resume our practices,” Racela told GMA News Online in a message.

Cruz has been sidelined for more than a year now after undergoing a medical repair on his injured knee that he sustained back in the 2019 Governors’ Cup.

The incident happened just days after he was traded by Alaska in exchange for Abu Tratter.

This is a big development for the rebuilding Blackwater, especially after a dismal performance in the recent 2020 Philippine Cup where they finished at 10th spot with a 2-9 win-loss slate.

Racela, though, admitted that the 29-year-old former Gilas Pilipinas mainstay has yet to reach his peak but the mentor stressed that Cruz’s return to hardcourt could help him fully recuperate.

He will be a major boost to a team that had just recently shipped away franchise player Mac Belo to Meralco in exchange for Baser Amer. Fortunately, the team will still have the services of other key players like KG Canaleta, Ed Daquioag, Mike Tolomia, and Simon Enciso.

They also have fresh faces in Andre Paras, Joshua Torralba, and Rey Mark Acuno, all of whom were Bossing's picks from this year’s stacked Rookie Draft.

“He’s (Cruz) not yet 100 percent but with practice and reps he will get to 100 percent for sure,” Racela shared.

Meanwhile, Racela revealed that they are not pushing through with their training in Quezon City but will instead go on with the initial plan in Batangas by the end of this week.

“Not pushing through today. We're looking at Batangas before the end of the week.” —JMB, GMA News