Pinoy guard from Qatar aims for spot in PBA Rookie Draft

From the hardwood courts of Doha to the bright lights of Manila, 21-year-old Jacey Kleon Cruz is ready to chase his lifelong dream of playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

Currently based in Qatar, Cruz is leaving behind his budding career with Qatar Sports Club to join the PBA Rookie Draft on September 7, hoping to earn a spot in Asia’s first professional basketball league. 

A sophomore at Qatar University taking up Business Finance, he balances academics with competitive basketball, recently averaging 13.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game in the Emir of Qatar Cup. 

 His reliable shooting touch — hitting 38 percent from beyond the arc, good enough to place him among the league’s Top 10 three-point shooters — highlighted his versatility on the floor.

At 21, Jacey Kleon Cruz already has quite an experience as a pro playing in the Qatari League for Qatar SC.

Now he’s headed back home to realize his PBA dreams #PBA50 https://t.co/p2LVr7pYUY

— SPIN.ph (@spinph) August 19, 2025

Cruz’s journey began at just 16 years old when he was recruited by Al Rayyan, one of Qatar’s most successful basketball clubs. Initially joining the U16 developmental squad, his strong play quickly earned him a promotion to the senior team, where he became its youngest member.

Despite carving out a promising career in Doha, Cruz has always kept one goal in mind — to one day step on a PBA court. “Katulad ng lahat ng batang Pinoy na pangarap maglaro sa PBA,” his father Melvin Cruz said, emphasizing how his son’s path reflects the shared dream of countless young Filipino hoopers.

Now represented by veteran agent Danny Espiritu and his son Marvin, the 5-foot-9 guard is set to arrive in Manila this week to formally submit his draft application and participate in pre-draft workouts with interested teams.

Born in Marikina City to a father from Marikina and a mother from Calumpit, Bulacan, Cruz and his family migrated to Doha in 2010, where he has lived ever since. But as the PBA celebrates its golden season, the young guard believes there’s no better time to bring his game back home.

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