Francisco Cruz

This article is about the Mexican basketball player. For the Honduran politician, see Francisco Cruz Castro. For the Spanish footballer, see Fran Cruz.
Pako Cruz
Cruz, with Mexico, during the 2014 FIBA World Cup
No. 9 – Mersin MSK
PositionShooting guard
LeagueBasketbol Süper Ligi
Personal information
Born (1989-10-03) October 3, 1989 (age 35)
Nogales, Mexico
Listed height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Listed weight217 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High schoolAbraham Lincoln (Denver, Colorado)
College
NBA draft2012: undrafted
Playing career2012–present
Career history
2012–2015Halcones Rojos
2013Pioneros de Quintana Roo
2014Fuerza Guinda de Nogales
2015Ciclista Olímpico
2015–2016VEF Rīga
2016–2019Fuenlabrada
2019–2020Rytas Vilnius
2020–2021Afyon Belediye
2021–2022Tofaş
2022–2024Manisa Büyükşehir Belediyespor
2024–presentMersin MSK
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Mexico
FIBA AmeriCup
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Argentina
Centrobasket
Gold medal – first place 2014 Mexico
Silver medal – second place 2016 Panama
FIBA COCABA Championship
Gold medal – first place 2013 El Salvador

Francisco "Pako" Javier Cruz Saldívar (born October 3, 1989) is a Mexican professional basketball player for Mersin MSK of the Basketbol Süper Ligi (BSL). He also represents the senior Mexico national basketball team. He played NCAA Division I college basketball at Wyoming. He is a 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) tall shooting guard, that can also play as a small forward.

High school

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Cruz attended and played basketball at Abraham Lincoln High School, in Denver, Colorado.

College career

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After high school, Cruz played college basketball. He first played at Western Nebraska Community College (JUCO), from 2008 to 2010. He then transferred to Wyoming (NCAA Division I), where he played with the Wyoming Cowboys, from 2010 to 2012.

Professional career

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Cruz began his pro career with the Mexican League club Halcones Rojos, in 2012. In 2015, he moved the Argentine League club Ciclista Olímpico. He then joined the Latvian club VEF Rīga, with which he played in the VTB United League.

In 2016, he joined the Spanish club Fuenlabrada, of the Liga ACB and European-wide 2nd-tier level EuroCup.[1]

On 3 August 2019, he signed with Rytas Vilnius of the Lithuanian Basketball League.[2]

On August 15, 2020, he has signed with Afyon Belediye of the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi.[3]

On June 25, 2021, he has signed with Tofaş of the Basketbol Süper Ligi.[4]

On January 27, 2024, he signed with Mersin MSK of the Türkiye Basketbol Ligi (BSL).[5]

National team career

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Cruz is a member of the senior Mexico national basketball team. With Mexico, he played at the 2014 FIBA World Cup,[6] and at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. He also played at the 2016 Turin FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and at the 2017 FIBA AmeriCup, where he won a bronze medal, and was named to the All-Tournament Team.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Francisco Cruz, más arsenal para el perímetro del Montakit Fuenlabrada (in Spanish).
  2. ^ "Vilniaus "Ryte" – snaiperis iš Meksikos — BC "Rytas"". rytasvilnius.lt (in Lithuanian). Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Afyon ink Paco Cruz". Sportando. August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2020.
  4. ^ "Pako Cruz Tofaş'ta". tofasspor.com (in Turkish). June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  5. ^ @mersin_msk (June 27, 2024). "Kulübümüz, Pako Cruz ile anlaşmaya varmıştır" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  6. ^ "FIBA profile". fiba.com. Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  7. ^ Francisco CRUZ (MEX).
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