Cortez old wound heals

Former De La Salle University superstar Mike Cortez feels relieved watching his son, Jacob, lift the trophy for the Green Archers following their dramatic Game 3 victory over University of the Philippines in Season 88 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament last Wednesday.

The 45-year-old Cortez said witnessing his eldest son win the UAAP crown is a sweet redemption as it was something that he failed to do during his final year for La Salle more than two decades ago.

With Cortez at the helm, the Green Archers dominated the double-round eliminations, finishing with a 13-1 record to clinch the top spot in the Final Four of Season 65. They crushed University of Santo Tomas, 97-84, to set up a best-of-three finals series with bitter rival Ateneo de Manila University.

But the Blue Eagles were tough nuts to crack.

Ateneo won Game 1, 72-70. La Salle bounced back with an 85-77 victory before Ateneo pulled off a 77-70 triumph in Game 3 to win the title, casting doubts on Cortez’s ability to lead the Green Archers to what could have been a five-peat.

“Redemption,” said Cortez, who went on to become the top overall pick of the 2013 Philippine Basketball Association Annual Rookie Draft.

“It was a redemption for me. Jacob told me he was gonna win this one for me, prove all the haters wrong -- and he did it. He did it.”

Cortez said it was such a relief seeing the La Salle community reaching out to his family to extend their congratulations — and gratitude. 

“Yeah, look at my friends here. Of course, it’s like 2000 and 2001 again,” Cortez said.

“It’s even sweeter. For my son to do it, for us to bring that crown back to La Salle, it’s even sweeter.”

He said his son’s journey — from San Beda University to La Salle — was really designed to help him exorcise the ghost of Season 65. 

And what made it even sweeter was the fact that Jacob played key roles in their Game 1 and Game 3 victories.

“Playing for San Beda and winning the championship, having to sit out one year, then coming back and winning it in his first year here — it’s so sweet. It’s so sweet,” Cortez said.