MANILA – TNT Tropang Giga is strengthening its wing position ahead of its bid for back-to-back PBA titles. It is set to acquire three-point gunner Carl Bryan Cruz from Blackwater Bossing.
Based on the trade deal still pending for approval, Cruz and rookie Rey Mark Acuno are heading to the Tropang Giga, while reserve center Chris Javier and TNT’s future first round pick goes to the Bossing.
The 6-foot-4 Cruz has long been under the radar of Tropang Giga head coach Vincent “Chot” Reyes after seeing his potential when the latter handled the Gilas Pilipinas national men’s basketball team.
The former Far Eastern University Tamaraws forward, however, was sidelined with injuries before making his return for the Bossing in the just-concluded 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.
Despite suiting up for a couple of games, the 30-year-old Cruz have showed promise for the Bossing. He submitted averages of 8.1 points, on 33.3-percent shooting from three-point area, to go with 2.7 rebounds.
Acuno, meanwhile, was a second round pick by the Bossing during the PBA Rookie Draft earlier this year. The 6-foot-7 forward/center only played for three games in his first conference in the PBA.
Javier, on the other hand, is making a comeback at the Bossing camp after becoming part of the Tropang Giga’s champion squad in the just concluded 2021 PBA Philippine Cup.
The 6-foot-5 center was used sparingly by the Tropang Giga. He only saw action in eight games, mostly during garbage time, posting numbers of 0.8 points and 0.3 rebounds per game.
Javier, who played for the Bossing franchise from 2017 to 2019, became the latest player acquired by the newly-appointed Blackwater head coach Ariel Vanguardia following his offseason revamp.
Earlier acquired by the Bossing via trades were Jvee Casio, Barkley Ebona, Mike Ayonayon, William McAloney and Rashawn McCarthy, and Valandre Chauca, and Juneric Baloria from free agency./PN
