Francisco Cruz

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

Pako Cruz
Cruz, with Mexico, during the 2014 FIBA World Cup
No. 9 – Afyon Belediye
PositionShooting guard
LeagueBasketbol Süper Ligi
Personal information
Born (1989-10-03) October 3, 1989
Nogales, Mexico
NationalityMexican
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–presentAfyon Belediye
Medals
Men's basketball
Representing  Mexico
FIBA AmeriCup
2017 Argentina
Centrobasket
2014 Mexico
2016 Panama
FIBA COCABA Championship
2013 El Salvador

High school

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

College career

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

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]

National team career

Cruz is a member of the senior Mexico national basketball team. With Mexico, he played at the 2014 FIBA World Cup,[4] 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.[5]

References
  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. "FIBA profile". fiba.com. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
  5. Francisco CRUZ (MEX).
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