The De La Salle Green Archers will be leaning heavily on star playmaker Jacob Cortez in his first UAAP season with the Taft-based squad.
Jacob Cortez will be among the key additions to La Salle in the upcoming UAAP Season 88.
The gutsy guard is expected to manufacture the Green Archers' offense as the Taft-based squad ushers in a new era after Kevin Quiambao.
Cortez, the second of his generation to play for DLSU after his dad Mike, is taking motivation from his family to hopefully get things going as he embarks on the new path of his collegiate career.
Having moved on from the NCAA where he claimed a championship with San Beda and nabbed the Finals Most Valuable Player recognition, Cortez hopes to replicate this success in his father’s alma mater.
[RELATED STORY: After Kevin Quiambao, La Salle now leaning on Cortez-Baclaan backcourt to come up big]
Jacob and Mikey Cortez will be suiting up for La Salle following their father’s footsteps. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Jacob Cortez, second-generation star
Family has always been the driving force for the young Cortez.
“It’s probably the biggest thing that matters,” Cortez said.
“Family’s one of the things I treasure. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to play basketball, and why I want to win with La Salle, of course, is because of our family.”
Mike was a two-time UAAP champion with the Green Archers. He was named UAAP Rookie of the Year in 2000 and made it to the Mythical Team twice in his collegiate career.
Apart from his father, Cortez will also be playing alongside his younger brother, Mikey, who also recently transferred to La Salle.
[RELATED STORY: La Salle's UAAP Finals loss fuels Jacob Cortez in 31-point outburst vs UP]
Arrows aimed at success
With a lot of fanfare surrounding his first year in the league, Cortez said there is not much he can do with the pressure except take it in stride.
As he aims to help La Salle redeem itself following its failed title retention bid against University of the Philippines last season, Cortez has everything to fight for to push away the noise.
“[I’m] embracing it,” Cortez said.
“But I don’t like to think of it that much. I turn it into fuel; I turn it into motivation to work harder, to push my teammates harder. And that, I think, is going to help me perform. Not only me, but my teammates as well. It’s going to help us perform well on the court,” Cortez said.
During the offseason, Cortez has shown flashes of brilliance, especially in the FilOil EcoOil Preseason Cup where the Green Archers reached the semifinals before falling against fierce rival Fighting Maroons.
[ALSO READ: Nic Cabañero sets high goals for UST Growling Tigers as hosts in UAAP Season 88]
Jacob Cortez is excited for his rookie year with La Salle in the UAAP. | Photo: RM Chua / One Sports
Cortez is eager to lead his team back to glory.
“I’m feeling excited. It’s my first UAAP season,” Cortez said.
“But I expect also to play hard and for my team to win. That’s our ultimate goal: to win the championship. Excited [ako],” he continued.
He will be flanked by fellow transferees Kean Baclaan and Mason Amos as they lead the post-Quiambao DLSU, together with holdovers Mike Phillips and Earl Abadam, and rookie Lebron Jhames Daep.
The Green Archers will kickstart their campaign against Adamson at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion Saturday, Sept. 20.
They clash at the 4:30 p.m. main game of the day's doubleheader.
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Luisa Morales is a sportswriter with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team and mixed martial arts.