| Arthur Dela Cruz | |
| Number: | 18 |
| Position: | Small forward / power forward |
| Height Ft: | 6 |
| Height In: | 4 |
| Weight Lb: | 210 |
| League: | MPBL |
| Team: | Davao Occidental Tigers |
| Birth Date: | 9 May 1992 |
| Birth Place: | San Miguel, Bulacan, Philippines |
| Nationality: | Filipino |
| High School: | San Beda College (Taytay, Rizal) |
| College: | Ateneo (2010) San Beda (2012–2015) |
| Draft Year Pba: | 2015 |
| Draft Round Pba: | 1 |
| Draft Pick Pba: | 9 |
| Draft Team Pba: | Blackwater Elite |
| Career Start: | 2015 |
| Years1: | 2015–2017 |
| Team1: | Blackwater Elite |
| Years2: | 2017–2020 |
| Team2: | Barangay Ginebra San Miguel |
| Years3: | 2021–2023 |
| Team3: | NorthPort Batang Pier |
| Years4: | 2023–present |
| Team4: | Davao Occidental Tigers |
| Awards: |
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Arthur A. Dela Cruz Jr. (born May 9, 1992) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Davao Occidental Tigers of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).
Dela Cruz started playing basketball when he was in 4th grade at St. Mary’s Academy in Bulacan. It was his father, Arturo dela Cruz Sr., known as Art Dela Cruz, himself a former PBA player, who first introduced him to the sport. In high school, he played as power forward of the San Beda Red Cubs.[1]
Dela Cruz first attended college at the Ateneo de Manila University for one year. He suited up for the Blue Eagles as a rookie in 2010 and played a key role in their campaign, when the Blue Eagles won the title that year. The following year, he returned to his high school alma mater, San Beda College, served one year of residency before finally seeing action for the Red Lions in 2012.[2] Initially, he was a backup to Jake Pascual, but he took the starting "4" slot when Pascual already played out his college eligibility in 2013. In that same year, the Red Lions won their fourth straight title at the expense of Letran, when he was awarded the Finals MVP.[3] In 2015, he led the Red Lions to the Finals once again, only to lose in three games at the expense of the Letran Knights. In his last collegiate game, he finished with a team-high 15 points on 8-of-12 shooting, 13 boards and was two assists shy of a triple-double, on top of two blocks and one steal in 34 minutes in the deciding Game Three.[4]
Dela Cruz was picked ninth overall by the Blackwater Elite of the Philippine Basketball Association in the 2015 PBA draft.[5] On October 30, 2015, he signed the two-year rookie deal with Blackwater.[6]
On August 31, 2017, dela Cruz, along with Raymond Aguilar, was traded to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for Chris Ellis and Dave Marcelo.[7]
On November 9, 2021, he was traded to the NorthPort Batang Pier for Sidney Onwubere.[8] He became an unrestricted free agent after the 2022–23 PBA season.[9]
As of the end of 2022–23 season[10]
|-| align=left | | align=left | Blackwater| 32 || 26.2 || .506 || .220 || .662 || 4.7 || 2.2 || 1.7 || .2 || 11.8|-| align=left | | align=left | Blackwater| 12 || 31.1 || .497 || .000 || .682 || 7.2 || 2.8 || 1.3 || .1 || 14.3|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 2 || 9.9 || .286 || .000 || .500 || 3.0 || 2.0 || 1.0 || .0 || 2.5|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 32 || 17.4 || .500 || .235 || .719 || 3.0 || 1.4 || .8 || .1 || 6.3|-| align=left | | align=left | Barangay Ginebra| 5 || 10.7 || .286 || .000 || .600 || 2.0 || .2 || .2 || .0 || 2.2|-| align=left | | align=left | NorthPort| 19 || 9.0 || .479 || .000 || .857 || 1.4 || .6 || .4 || .0 || 3.1|-class=sortbottom| align=center colspan=2 | Career| 102 || 19.7 || .494 || .208 || .691 || 3.7 || 1.6 || 1.0 || .1 || 8.1
Dela Cruz is the son of former PBA player and current Terra Firma Dyip assistant coach Arturo dela Cruz. He took up AB in Communications in San Beda College and his long-term plan is to help his mother with their family business in Bulacan.