Cha Cruz-Behag

Charleen Abigaile "Cha" Ramos Cruz-Behag (born May 11, 1988) is a Filipino professional volleyball player and an educator. She is a member of the Philippine women's national volleyball team. Currently, she is playing and is the team captain for the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the Philippine Super Liga, a semi-professional corporate club volleyball league in the Philippines. She was a member of De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Spikers, the official women's volleyball varsity team of De La Salle University. She was a two-time University Athletic Association of the Philippines's (UAAP) Finals Most Valuable Player and was part of DLSU Lady Spikers' four UAAP championships. She is known for her versatility in playing the sport of volleyball earning her the moniker "Ms. Everything".

In this Philippine name for married women, the birth middle name or maternal family name is Ramos, the birth surname or paternal family name is Cruz, and the marital name is Behag.
Cha Cruz-Behag
Personal information
Full nameCharleen Abigaile Ramos Cruz
NationalityFilipino
Born (1988-05-11) May 11, 1988
HometownValenzuela, Philippines
Height1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
College / UniversityDe La Salle University
Volleyball information
PositionOutside hitter/open hitter
Current clubF2 Logistics Cargo Movers
Number11
Career
YearsTeams
2014AirAsia Flying Spikers
2014Generika Lifesavers
2015Shopinas.com Lady Clickers
2015Meralco Power Spikers
2015Cignal HD Spikers
2016–F2 Logistics Cargo Movers

Personal life

Cruz was born on May 11, 1988. She studied in the St. Louis College of Valenzuela high school from 2003 to 2006 and completed her Bachelor's in Psychology at De La Salle University and as of 2012 was pursuing her Master's degree in Special Education.[1] She is the older sister of volleyball players Camille Cruz and Cienne Cruz.[2][3]

Cruz married pilot Rey Behag on February 28, 2018, in Tagaytay.[4] In October 2019, she gave birth to her son, Leon Sol.[5]

Career

Cruz is known for her versatility and multidimensional skills in playing volleyball. Over the years of playing, she has played every position except libero and has embraced the 7th woman role for the DLSU Lady Spikers. According to her: "Kung sino yung nagkamali, or sino yung medyo off sa game, I’ll replace them. So even setter, even center spiker, utility or open spiker I played."[6] This all-around athleticism in playing the sport and her ability to transition from setter to all spiking positions[7] earned her the moniker "Miss Everything".[8] However, she completed playing the final position of libero during the Battle of the Rivals last July 16, 2017.[9]

Cruz began playing volleyball during her 6th grade. She abruptly took a break in the succeeding years but picked it up again during high school. She was later recruited by Coach Ramil De Jesus for the DLSU Lady Spikers varsity team and played for the team from 2005 to 2012.[1]

Her first three years in her collegiate career was a shaky journey. Midway during her UAAP rookie year (Season 68, 2005–2006), while doing the setting job for the team, she sustained a stress fracture in her left ankle which forced her to sit out the remaining games of the season. While in the following UAAP season (Season 69, 2006–07), all DLSU varsity teams were suspended from the athletic association as consequence of its men's basketball team's violation on a UAAP rule. In UAAP Season 70 (2007–08), Cruz-Behag failed to suit up for the team due to academic requirements.

In 2008, Cruz finally returned to suit up for the team this time playing the open spiker and middle blocker positions. The DLSU Lady Spikers only dropped two matches in UAAP Season 71 (2008-2009) winning the championship title over the Far Eastern Lady Tamaraws.[10] However, in Season 72 (2009–10), the DLSU Lady Spikers were dethroned by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Lady Tigers and finished as runner up.[10]

In her last two UAAP seasons [Seasons 73 (2010–11) and 74 (2011–12)], Cruz was named team captain for the DLSU Lady Spikers. In both seasons, the team won the championships and Cruz was awarded the UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player for both seasons. Eventually, the back-to-back championships turned into a 3-peat as the DLSU Lady Spikers again won the UAAP Women's Volleyball championship in Season 75.

After exhausting her UAAP playing years, Cruz temporarily took a break from playing volleyball and focused on her teaching job.[11] She is currently finishing her master's degree in education major in special education at De La Salle University.

After a two-year hiatus, in 2014, Cruz made a comeback via the now defunct AirAsia Flying Spikers, reuniting with Coach Ramil de Jesus and other DLSU Lady Spikers. Currently, she is the team captain of the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers in the Philippine Super Liga.

Clubs

Awards (Partial list)

Individuals

Collegiate

Partial list, pre-season tournaments (PVF, Unigames, Shakey's V-League) not included

Clubs

Beach Volleyball

Recognition

References
  1. Albelda, Josiah (March 5, 2012). "Finding inspiration in Season 74 superstar Cha Cruz". Rappler. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  2. Tuazon, Nicole (November 14, 2014). "Cienne Cruz: Stepping up in UAAP 77". The Lasallian. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  3. Dionisio, Mac (November 9, 2014). "20 times Cha Cruz' Instagram account killed your self-confidence". Rivals. Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  4. Lozada, Mei-Lin (March 1, 2018). "Cha Cruz transforms from 'Miss Everything' into Mrs. Behag in Tagaytay wedding". Sports Interactive Network. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  5. Lozada, Mei-Lin (October 22, 2019). "Cha Cruz-Behag welcomes her newborn son Leon Sol". Sports Interactive Network. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
  6. "Cha Cruz". One Meralco Sports. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  7. "PressReader.com - Digital Newspaper & Magazine Subscriptions". www.pressreader.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  8. Lozada, Mei-Lin (March 29, 2016). "'Ms Everything' Cha Cruz juggles roles as volleyball player, part-time teacher and student". Sports Interactive Network. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
  9. "Log in or sign up to view". m.facebook.com. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  10. Flores, Joaqui (April 24, 2015). "For the greater good: The Cha Cruz story". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 16, 2021.
  11. "Sports". Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  12. "Cha Cruz to be named as the PSL's new ambassador". ABS-CBN Sports. April 11, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
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