There’s a very special reason why Jacob Cortez is determined to lead De La Salle University to the title of Season 88 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) men’s basketball tournament.
He wants to duplicate the feat set by his father — Mike — around 20 years ago.
Dubbed as the “Cool Cub” as a playful nod to his father’s moniker, the 23-year-old Cortez expressed willingness to clinch the title for the Green Archers when they face University of the Philippines (UP) for the third straight time in the best-of-three finals series that starts on Wednesday.
He said raising the UAAP trophy will be extra special as he will be able to finally recreate the winning moments of his father in 2000 and 2001.
“It means a lot to me,” said Cortez, who made the transfer from San Beda University to La Salle two years ago just to realize his dream of winning a UAAP title.
“I’ve said in a lot of interviews that this is my dream to play for La Salle. I’ve been watching them since I was a kid. I actually watched them when they won the championship.”
“Now I’m in that spot in the finals with them. I’m with Mike (Philipps), Coach T, and as I said earlier, I’m not gonna win alone. I have 100 percent trust in these guys that they’ll do whatever it takes to win. Really, all you need is trust.”
He added that his father was supposed to be at courtside, but he had to rush to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) to attend to his coaching chores with Blackwater.
“I know I was looking for him earlier, but I forgot that he had a PBA to go to,” Cortez said.
“Dad, if you’re watching this, I love you.”
True enough, the young Cortez proved that he is ready for his own coronation.
In a crucial Final Four match against National University last Saturday, Cortez rose to the occasion, rallying La Salle from a 69-71 deficit by nailing a three-pointer, a jumper and a free throw to grab the driver’s seat, 75-72, with only 8.2 seconds left.
His heroics didn’t only leave the top-seed Bulldogs stunned, but it created a lasting impact on the La Salle community, making them aware that another Cortez is ready to embrace the role as the new “King Archer.”
Still, Cortez humbly deflected the credit, saying that the victory would not be possible without the support of his teammates and coaches, led by Topex Robinson.
“I want to give credit to my teammates and my coaches,” he said. “We all worked so hard for this moment, and I know all you guys see are my shots, but Mike (Phillips), Jcee (Macalalag) and Earl (Abadam) did a good job defending their opponents.”
“Even though (Jake) Figueroa had 21 (points), it was a tough 21 (points) for him. I think that’s what helped us win the game. I think that’s what helped me get into my groove. We’re gonna celebrate today, but it’s gonna get tougher when we play the finals next week.”