Former Pros: Onchie de la Cruz

Talk about enforcers and the name of Ramon "Onchie" de la Cruz suddenly comes to mind. His defensive ability and highly physical game has drawn comparisons to no less than the Living Legend Robert Jaworski. Born November 26, 1960, the wide-bodied 5-11 Onchie was a big point guard who made a living out of his ability to post up smaller point guards and barrel his way towards the hoop.

Onchie attributes his tough style of playing to his backlot stints in Manuguit, Tondo where he grew up, also made it to the 1982 Asian Games team, and the following year, to the SEA Games quintet. From thereon, Onchie became a journeyman in the amateur commercial leagues, playing for, among others, Filand Brokerage, USI PHIL, Sampaguita Pictures, Achievers, Zest-O, Paul Jordan, Boogie Jeans, and before his Masagana stint, with the Bayside team.

He had a brief stint with the San Sebastian Staglets but was disqualified since he had graduated from high school already, then played for a year with the Philippine Christian University’s varsity team.

The youngest of 3 boys and 2 girls of Cipriano de la Cruz and Juliana Guevarra, Onchie entered the PBA in 1985 where he was tapped by Tanduay Rhum in the first round. He was part of the near grandslam campaign of Tanduay Rhum in the 1986 season and played second fiddle to Willie Generalao. When Tanduay disbanded in 1988, his contract was assumed by Purefoods but his stint with the Hotdogs was shortlived. Onchie would play his last seasons as a pro with Presto and Shell. He retired in 1995 after playing a total of 351 games averaging 6.7 ppg.