In a couple of years, De La Salle University will boast a new backcourt, featuring Kean Baclaan and Jacob Cortez donning the green and white once more in UAAP Season 88.
While both were integral parts of the La Salle system — Baclaan, a product of De La Salle-Zobel, and Cortez, who attended junior high at La Salle Green Hills — their arrival at Taft Avenue evoked memories of a couple of transfers that occurred a few years ago.
Four years ago, Evan Nelle made the decision to pack his bags, leaving San Beda for La Salle.
Nine months later, he was joined by the UAAP Season 82 Rookie of the Year, Mark Nonoy.
It took three seasons before the duo of Nelle and Nonoy played pivotal roles, securing the Season 86 championship for the Green Archers.
Baclaan acknowledges the pressure to fill the shoes left by those two, a challenge he embraces.
“Sakin? No pressure kasi alam ko na kaya din namin yung ginawa nila, lalo si Jacob.
“Yung makakasama ko sa court alam naman natin yung kakayanan at IQ niya pagdating sa laro so para sa akin mas mapapagaan at mas magiging maayus yung takbo sa loob ng court lalo na kasabay mo si Jacob at si KQ (Kevin Quiambao) sa loob. Mas magaan yung trabaho,” the 5-foot-8 guard told Tiebreaker Times.
Unlike Nelle and Nonoy, Cortez and Baclaan only have a two-year window, with Cortez having played three seasons with San Beda and Baclaan’s residency year counting in his UAAP ledger.
That’s why Cortez emphasizes that they will use their residency year to deepen their understanding of each other while immersing themselves in Topex Robinson’s system.
“Excited siyempre pero we are focusing on recovering our bodies during our residency year,” said the 5-foot-11 Cortez.
“We’ll see what happens.”
