Basketball Queensland is proud to congratulate Queensland coach Gavin De La Cruz on his appointment as Head Coach of the Papua New Guinea Women's 3x3 Team for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

The appointment marks another significant milestone in a coaching journey that has spanned nearly two decades and taken De La Cruz from grassroots basketball in Queensland to the international stage.

Born in Lae, Papua New Guinea, De La Cruz said the opportunity to represent his country of birth at one of the world's premier multi-sport events is both a personal and professional honour.

"This appointment is incredibly special to me. Having been born in Lae, Papua New Guinea, it represents both personal pride and professional achievement.

"To have the opportunity to represent Papua New Guinea on the international stage and contribute to the growth and success of its athletes is something I am deeply grateful for. It is an honour to represent the country and its people at a major event such as the Commonwealth Games."

De La Cruz's coaching journey began in Queensland in 2007 while delivering basketball clinics through the PCYC. During that time, he became involved with Western Magic Basketball Club, a connection that remains an important part of his coaching story nearly two decades later.

Since then, he has built an extensive coaching résumé across both domestic and international basketball. His experience includes coaching athletes from Under-12 representative programs through to NBL1 level, while also working with junior and senior national teams in FIBA competitions and leading international tours throughout the United States and New Zealand.

His contributions to basketball in Queensland have been recognised through several coaching achievements, including being named the 2022 Basketball Queensland QSL Division 2 Women's Coach of the Year with the South West Metro Pirates. He has also coached within Basketball Queensland's senior performance pathway, serving as Head Coach of the Ipswich Force NBL1 Women and Assistant Coach of the South West Metro Pirates NBL1 Men, while helping guide the Pirates' QSL Division 2 Women's program to a runner-up finish.

Throughout his career, De La Cruz has embraced opportunities to develop athletes and coaches at all levels of the game.

One of his most influential roles came as National Coaching Director for the Basketball Federation of Papua New Guinea, where he helped develop the nation's style of play, delivered coaching education programs and led national coaching conferences for coaches, administrators and high-performance staff throughout the country.

Reflecting on the experiences that have shaped his coaching pathway, De La Cruz credits the many people and organisations that have supported him throughout his journey.

"My coaching journey has been shaped by many talented coaches, administrators, athletes and associations throughout Queensland and beyond.

"Every opportunity, challenge, success and setback has provided valuable lessons that have helped me grow. I am grateful for the many people who have supported, challenged and encouraged me along the way."

His appointment serves as a powerful example of the opportunities available through Queensland's coaching pathway, demonstrating how coaches can progress from local association programs through to national and international appointments.

When asked what advice he would offer aspiring coaches, his message was simple:

"Never stop learning. I have always considered myself a student of the game, and I believe the best coaches are lifelong learners.

"Be willing to seek feedback, learn from others, build relationships and embrace every coaching opportunity, regardless of the level. Growth comes from being open-minded and continually looking for ways to improve."

As he prepares to lead Papua New Guinea onto the international stage in Glasgow, De La Cruz remains guided by a philosophy that has shaped his coaching approach throughout his career:

"We start as players and leave as family."

Basketball Queensland congratulates Gavin De La Cruz on this outstanding achievement and wishes him and the Papua New Guinea Women's 3x3 Team every success at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

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