Art Dela Cruz is Balling in the MPBL — And PBA Teams Should Start Watching Closely
Once a promising Swiss army knife in the PBA, Art Dela Cruz's professional career hit a wall after recurring injuries pushed him out of the limelight. But in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL), the former San Beda star is rewriting the narrative — and proving he's far from finished.
Now suiting up for expansion team Ilagan City, Dela Cruz is putting up stat-sheet-stuffing numbers that are too good to ignore:
📊 15.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists per game, shooting 44% from the field and 33% from beyond the arc.
While Ilagan currently holds a 3-4 record, much of their competitiveness can be credited to the all-around brilliance of Dela Cruz. He's been a stabilizer, scorer, and secondary playmaker — doing everything on the court, just like he once did in the PBA before injuries derailed his momentum.
With the MPBL becoming a stage for PBA-caliber talent to showcase their comeback potential, Art Dela Cruz is quickly emerging as one of the top comeback candidates. And for PBA teams looking for a versatile, high-IQ forward who can impact the game in multiple ways, the time to call is now.
Here are the Top 3 PBA teams that should strongly consider bringing Dela Cruz back:
#1. Meralco Bolts
Fresh off a historic Philippine Cup championship, the Bolts are suddenly a title-contending team in search of sustainable success. But a closer look at their rotation reveals a gap in versatile wing depth, especially with the wear-and-tear on key veterans like Cliff Hodge and Chris Newsome.
Art Dela Cruz fits like a glove. His rebounding and playmaking from the wing could ease the workload of their starters, while giving Coach Luigi Trillo another creative piece to exploit mismatches. Meralco thrives on balance and discipline — both of which Dela Cruz brings in spades.
#2. San Miguel Beermen
Yes, the Beermen have depth. Yes, they have size. But what they lack is a forward who can initiate plays and pass out of high-pressure situations. With a core of scorers like June Mar Fajardo, CJ Perez, and Jericho Cruz, what SMB could use is a glue guy — someone to make the system click even when the stars are resting.
Dela Cruz’s high-IQ play and willingness to do the dirty work is exactly what San Miguel needs to support their star-studded rotation. He won't demand touches, but he'll grab offensive boards, make the extra pass, and defend multiple positions.
#3. Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
Ginebra has had some bench inconsistency, especially with injuries and rotation tweaks in recent conferences. What they need now is someone not redundant with their current pieces — a flexible forward who can defend wings, grab rebounds, and operate as a connector in their offense.
Enter Art Dela Cruz — a former Ginebra player who already understands Coach Tim Cone’s triangle tendencies and pace control. He could provide a seamless transition into the second unit and be a situational weapon for playoff runs.
The Comeback Watch is On
Art Dela Cruz isn’t just playing well in the MPBL — he’s dominating in the ways that once made him one of the most promising young forwards in Philippine basketball. The numbers show that he's healthy, productive, and still a high-level contributor.
With multiple PBA teams either retooling or preparing for deep playoff pushes, Dela Cruz could be the underrated difference-maker in a title run — or a steadying presence for teams in transition.
The question now is: Who will call first?
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