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Mexican basketball player From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Cruz, with Mexico, during the 2014 FIBA World Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 9 – Mersin MSK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Shooting guard | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| League | Basketbol Süper Ligi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | October 3, 1989 Nogales, Mexico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 217 lb (98 kg) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Abraham Lincoln (Denver, Colorado) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College |
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| NBA draft | 2012: undrafted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing career | 2012–present | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2015 | Halcones Rojos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013 | Pioneros de Quintana Roo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Fuerza Guinda de Nogales | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | Ciclista Olímpico | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2016 | VEF Rīga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Fuenlabrada | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Rytas Vilnius | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2021 | Afyon Belediye | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Tofaş | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Manisa Büyükşehir Belediyespor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Mersin MSK | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Cruz attended and played basketball at Abraham Lincoln High School, in Denver, Colorado.
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.
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]
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]
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