For a moment, it seemed that Jacob Cortez’ dream senior campaign was turning into a nightmare.
In the first three games of UAAP Season 89, Cortez was converting on only 25.8 percent of his field goal attempts and scored in double figures just once, which was during the DLSU Green Archers’ 80-75 loss to the UST Growling Tigers. The defensive pressure opposing teams placed against him and the Green Archers following a championship run turned up a notch, and the former San Beda Red Lion’s counters have generally been for naught.
Cortez’ slump was all the more put into focus in La Salle’s consecutive losses to the Tigers and the FEU Tamaraws. Social media hasn’t been too kind to him and DLSU, but they continue to march on knowing the end of the slump could be near.
And it seems as if Cortez and the Green Archers may have turned a corner.
The UE Red Warriors are normally a trap game for La Salle. It’s often been ugly for DLSU, even if they’ve won. But this time, it’s the Green Archers that have made things ugly for the Red Warriors. UE scored the first two points, but a 9-0 La Salle run put an end to any monumental upset.
Cortez easily had his best game of Season 89 against the Red Warriors not just in terms of point total (15) but also efficiency (60.0/50.0/100.0 shooting splits). Never mind that he did this against the worst team in the league; this is Cortez at his best.
The Cortez that struck fear into the hearts of the UAAP and made leads unsafe was one that flat out took over games. He would toy with opponents and need only a sliver of space to make an impact on the game. This season, the NCAA and UAAP champion has had to ensure that everyone gets touches, but he may need to do his best Thanos impression and do things himself. Maybe in doing so he can open things up for his DLSU teammates.
Numbers aside, Cortez’ perseverance and grit have been on full display. He’s experienced the highs and lows that basketball can bring to a player: rejection, adulation, championships, wins, and losses. The graduation of Mike Phillips may have also added more defensive focus on Cortez, but he’d be the first person to tell you that’s not an excuse; he’ll simply find a way to work past it.
A match against the Ateneo Blue Eagles looms large this week. Cortez has never shied away from the spotlight, but a performance like that against UE gives him the confidence that could finally get the Green Archers’ title defense back on track.
Jacob Cortez’ start to UAAP Season 89 has been ugly to say the least, but there’s still a ton of basketball to write another happy ending. Cortez has been battling all throughout and he’s been showing there’s beauty in the struggle. And if he keeps this up, the ugliness of the last few games could turn into tomorrow’s success.
