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What we know about UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz

Rappler.com

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What we know about UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz
Rappler collates background information on under-fire UST head coach Bong Dela Cruz

MANILA, Philippines – Little was known of Bong Dela Cruz when he succeeded Pido Jarencio as head coach of the UST Growling Tigers in 2014. Fans wondered whether he could bring the same successes Jarencio brought the Tigers.

A year later he proved himself and became known as the coach who steered the Tigers back to the UAAP Finals after a dismal first season sans the well-loved Jarencio.

But almost two months after falling short against the FEU Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 78 men’s basketball finals, the respect and reputation Dela Cruz earned are now being questioned.

Dela Cruz is making headlines for serious allegations of reported physical and verbal abuse on the Growling Tigers. He has reportedly been sacked, though Fr. Ermito de Sagon, OP, director of UST’s Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA), stated the coach is not fired nor suspended, but is under investigation for undisclosed reasons. Dela Cruz has also been asked not to attend team practices.

Due to recent events, Rappler has put together information and background on Dela Cruz.

  • Dela Cruz was a former player for the Tiger Cubs, UST’s high school basketball team in the late 80s. He teamed up with twin towers Marlou Aquino and EJ Feihl.
  • Dela Cruz then moved on to play college ball at Adamson University together with Aquino, Feihl, and Kenneth Duremdes in the early 90s, where they eventually made the finals in 1992 but were swept by FEU.
  • Dela Cruz was once a member of the RP Youth Team with Johnny Abarrientos and Olsen Racela.
  • A knee injury forced Dela Cruz to let go of any PBA dreams and try his luck in coaching.
  • In 2000, he coached grade schoolers at the Philippine Cultural High School in Tondo, before moving on to La Consolacion College Manila (LCCM) where he coached the women’s team and eventually won WNCAA titles.
  • According to an October 2015 post by Timeline Manila, Dela Cruz is still the head coach of the LCCM Blue Royals, at least for the Inter-Scholastic Athletic Association tournament. Timeline Manila describes itself as “an electronic news platform made to bring only the top and freshest news in La Consolacion College Manila and in the Philippines.
  • Dela Cruz gained more experience as assistant coach in defunct leagues such as the Philippine Basketball League, the National Basketball Conference, and Liga Pilipinas.
  • Dela Cruz returned to UST towards Jarencio’s final year as head coach in 2012. He served as assistant coach to Jarencio and witnessed as the Tigers fell short in the UAAP Finals against the Blue Eagles and the Green Archers in back-to-back seasons.
  • He was named head coach of the Growling Tigers in March 2014 after Jarencio moved on to the PBA.
  • Dela Cruz struggled in his debut season as UST missed the Final Four and finished 6th with a 5-9 record, before leading the Tigers to the top spot in Season 78 with an 11-3 slate.
  • In 2014, a “Replace Bong Dela Cruz NOW” Facebook fan page was created amid the Tigers’ forgettable Season 77 run, with fans calling for Dela Cruz’s replacement. As of posting the page has 1,293 likes and is continuously updated.

– Rappler.com

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