With three minutes left in their UAAP Season 88 opener against the Adamson Soaring Falcons, it seemed as if the DLSU Green Archers were on the brink of another collapse. 

For the Green Archers, turnovers came in bunches, while missed free throws reared their ugly head once again. Meanwhile, Cedric Manzano and the Soaring Falcons fought for every loose ball and the basketball gods rewarded their heart and hustle with some timely baskets. A lead that was once La Salle’s slipped away and it felt like the game too was going to slip from their fingers. 

Moments like that can rattle most players, but Jacob Cortez is not like most players. 

Cortez was a steady presence on offense, despite Adamson’s pressure defense getting to him. Even when he turned the ball over and gave up points on defense, the former San Beda Red Lion was undeterred. He continued to take a deliberate approach, finding the holes on defense and slipping past eager defenders. The offense was obvious, but his key drawn offensive foul and the assist to Mason Amos for the final nail in the coffin were equally, if not, more important than his points. 

Cortez already had shown his ability in clutch situations with the Red Lions and in the preseason with DLSU. The son of former Green Archer Mike Cortez clearly did the work during the offseason and was putting on a show as he completed his residency. 

The preseason titles and individual awards are of course, well and good. However, the UAAP is a different ballgame. The stakes are higher and everyone plays with a little something extra. It’s clear teams kept their cards close to their chest during the offseason, but Cortez and La Salle have not been the type to hide their capabilities as they have always found ways to win. 

The heartbreak of last season’s finals loss and the exit of Kevin Quiambao left DLSU searching for a closer. Mike Phillips has taken on the lead role, but Cortez has seamlessly transitioned into the closer for the Green Archers, never being fazed and always making the right play with the game on the line. As great as his debut was, we will likely see some bumps in the road and such is expected when defenses adjust and when La Salle faces tougher competition. Knowing Cortez, though, he’ll bounce back. 

The narrative surrounding Jacob Cortez moving to the DLSU Green Archers was a homecoming and a dream that finally came true. In one of his old stomping grounds, Cortez helped replace some of the pain from Season 87 with a promising start to the new season. The Green Archers will always be title contenders, but it’s on Cortez to make sure the job is done and the work is finished.