Published October 6, 2025 4:46pm
Updated October 6, 2025 4:46pm
NCAA Season 101. October 5, 2025. Mark Gojo Cruz of the Perpetual ALTAs. Photo: NCAA
After proving himself as a dependable scorer in his rookie year, Mark Gojo Cruz is now ready for a different challenge in NCAA Season 101 — leading Perpetual’s offense from the point guard spot.
ALTAs coach Olsen Racela revealed they are easing Gojo Cruz into the playmaker role and it’s a change the sophomore star has openly embraced as part of his growth.
“Sobrang grateful ko rin kasi ‘yung mga knowledge na natutunan ko sa kanya (Racela). Kahit nga sophomore ako, hindi talaga ako sanay mag-point guard,” Gojo Cruz said on Sunday.
“Ine-embrace ko lang talaga ‘yung maging point guard ako and hopefully, maka-create din ako para sa teammates ko.”
(I’m so grateful for the knowledge I’m learning from him, even if I’m still a sophomore and I’m not that used to playing point guard. I’m embracing becoming a point guard and hopefully, I can create for my teammates.)
Gojo Cruz was nothing short of impressive in his first year of collegiate duty with the ALTAs, emerging as their top scorer with averages of 12.78 points, 5.39 rebounds, 2.78 assists, 1.28 steals, and 0.78 blocks per game in Season 100.
Those numbers made him Perpetual’s most consistent performer, which was an impressive feat for a rookie fresh out of high school.
And just two games into his sophomore season this NCAA Season 101, Gojo Cruz has already shown flashes that he’s not only the future but perhaps the present face of the Las Piñas crew.
Against San Sebastian last Friday, Gojo Cruz poured 15 points, two rebounds, and two assists en route to their 67-54 victory. He then followed it with 18 markers, four boards, four dimes, and three steals to help the ALTAs carve out a 73-61 victory over Lyceum on Sunday.
While taking charge on offense, Gojo Cruz was also tasked to defend LPU’s top scorer, Renz Villegas. And although the Pirates’ sniper still managed 18 points, Racela remained impressed with how Gojo Cruz showcased his growing two-way game.
“Well ang gusto ko kay Gojo, he’s a two-way player. Siya ang dumepensa kay Villegas din tapos he played 28 minutes tapos offense din ay naka-contribute siya,” Racela, one of the elite point guards to ever play in the PBA, said.
(What I like about Gojo, he’s a two-way player. He was the one who defended Villegas and he played 28 minutes plus on offense, he was able to contribute.)
“That’s what I like about him. And it helps that he has veteran players around him. He still has a lot to learn, we’re trying to move him to the point guard position role.”
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
