Despite not being on the roster last year, Jacob Cortez felt all the pain and disappointment of the DLSU Green Archers in the UAAP Season 87 Finals against UP.
Jacob Cortez was not amiss to the sting of De La Salle's Finals loss to the UP Fighting Maroons, even when he wasn’t on the Green Archers' roster for UAAP Season 87.
Finally getting his chance following residency, Cortez didn’t waste time in avenging his team — uncorking a 31-point performance in La Salle’s big 106-99 win over UP in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup on Saturday.
[READ: Jacob Cortez, La Salle outgun UP in high-scoring FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup match]
Showing exactly why he was a blue-chip recruit, Cortez took over for the Green Archers late against the two-time defending champs. With pride on the line, Cortez sank the dagger that gave La Salle a nine-point lead, 105-96.
After the match, Cortez didn’t shy away from pointing out that it was a revenge game for last season.
“Just to play my game, really, I’ve been waiting to go against this team for like a year and you could say that motivation comes from the UAAP season,” Cortez said after the game.
“Losing to them, and then losing a lot of players, but at the end of the day, it’s just a lot of fun. Playing my game and getting everyone involved as well,” he added.
Despite his offensive onslaught, it was far from an easy showing for La Salle's new point guard. That is, UP is also known for its formidable roster of guards — from the likes of Harold Alarcon, Gerry Abadiano, and Rey Remogat, just to name a few.
Among his contemporaries since his high school career, Cortez said that he was delighted to face off with his rivals, especially since they are able to bring out the best in him.
“For sure, next game we’ll make adjustments. But, man it’s just a chess match with them. I’ve been going against them since high school and they always like what coach said earlier, they always bring the best out of me, and again it’s just having fun,” Cortez said.