The Season 88 University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) title isn’t just an ordinary feather in the hat of De La Salle University star Jacob Cortez.
It also makes him part of the unique group of players who had won titles in both the UAAP and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
Cortez said his ties with San Beda University, which he led to the NCAA title in Season 99 before moving to La Salle, played a crucial role in his determination to go all out and win the championship for the Green Archers.
In fact, he was shocked when he realized that he lifted his first UAAP trophy exactly two years when he won the title for San Beda in a game where his current La Salle coach Topex Robinson served as the analyst for the broadcast panel.
“Exactly two years ago, I won with San Beda with Coach Topex as the analyst,” Cortez said following their 80-72 triumph over University of the Philippines in Game 3 of the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball finals series last Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“I don’t know why. Who would have thought that two years later, on the same day, I would win it for him, with him, in my dream school, La Salle? It’s amazing how God really works.”
Aside from Cortez, other players who won titles in both the UAAP and the NCAA are future professional players Arthur dela Cruz for Ateneo de Manila University and San Beda, Robert Bolick for La Salle and San Beda, Will Navarro for San Beda and Ateneo, Brent Paraiso for La Salle and Letran College, and Evan Nelle for San Beda and La Salle.
RC Calimag and Bismarck Lina also won a title with the Fighting Maroons before being part of the Red Lions squad that swept the Knights to win the NCAA Season 101 crown two weeks ago.
Cortez added that after suffering a 63-66 loss to the Fighting Maroons in Game 2 of their title series, he reconnected with former San Beda teammate Yukien Andrada, who was then preparing to play his first professional game after winning the title with the Red Lions.
“I spoke with Yukien Andrada when we lost Game 2. He said ‘You got this’ and encouraged me. I was saying “Yukes, ang dali ng buhay nyo dun (San Beda) because they had the advantage,” Cortez said.
“Him and Ralph Penuela would talk to me and make me really relax.”
Andrada’s words fired him up as Cortez made all the right plays in the crucial stretch of Game 3, especially when Rey Remogat knocked down a crucial three-pointer that gave the Fighting Maroons a 67-64 lead with more than four minutes remaining.
Together with Mason Amos and Vhoris Marasigan, Cortez refused to falter as the Green Archers dropped an 8-0 run to regain the driver’s seat, 72-67, entering the final 1:26 of regulation.
“In Game 3, Coach made the right adjustments. But the fuel, the competitiveness, that’s what makes it fun for me,” said Cortez, referring to Robinson, who also coached for Lyceum of the Philippines University in the NCAA before moving to La Salle.