A string of impressive outings propelled La Salle’s Jacob Cortez and UST’s Karylle Sierba to PSC–Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Season 88 Players of the Week recognition for Oct. 15–19.
La Salle’s Jacob Cortez was unstoppable, and UST’s Karylle Sierba roared louder than ever.
Thanks to a string of strong performances, Cortez and Sierba were named the PSC–Collegiate Press Corps UAAP Season 88 Players of the Week for Oct. 15–19 for men’s and women’s basketball, respectively.
Cortez averaged 19 points, 5.5 assists and 3 rebounds in the Green Archers’ back-to-back wins to close out the opening round.
Against UE, the combo guard scored 26 points, handed out five assists, and made four steals in a thrilling 111-111 overtime comeback.
[ALSO READ: Jacob Cortez finishes what Kean Baclaan started to propel La Salle past UE in overtime thriller]
He was also one of five players to score 12 points or more in a hard-fought 72-69 victory over defending champion UP.
The performances pushed the Green Archers to a 4-3 record halfway through the tournament, tied for third with the Fighting Maroons and the Ateneo Blue Eagles.
Cortez's crucial stretch also coincided with La Salle dealing with challenging injuries to Mason Amos and Kean Baclaan.
[ALSO READ: UAAP standings: NU claims top spot to end Round 1; UP, Ateneo, La Salle locked in three-way tie]
La Salle will open its second-round campaign against UST on Saturday, Oct. 25, at 4:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Meanwhile, Sierba emerged as a key cog as the league-leading Growling Tigresses extended their unbeaten start to 6-0.
She scored 21 points and grabbed four rebounds in a 104-66 win over FEU, before adding 16 markers in a 79-55 rout of Adamson.
Over the two-game stretch, Sierba averaged 18.5 points and four rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the field, and 42 percent from three-point range.
UST will close its opening-round campaign against UP on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 12 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.