A Jacob Cortez who’s enjoying the moment is a Jacob Cortez who’s dangerous.
That’s exactly what happened in the fourth quarter of De La Salle University’s win-to-get-in match against Ateneo de Manila University on Wednesday night.
Cortez had fun, and it showed. He scored 12 points in the final frame, leading the Green Archers to the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Final Four with a 78-72 victory over their rivals in front of a roaring crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The 5-foot-11 guard finished with 20 points on an efficient 9-of-12 shooting from the field, along with seven assists, three rebounds, and a steal.
“Yeah, it’s just having fun,” the 5-foot-11 guard from San Beda said on his clutch performance.
“EJ Gollena, he’s usually the one who always reminds us of that. But he isn’t here with us, but all he would tell us is to enjoy, have fun. And doing that earlier, those crucial shots, I was having fun and at the same time, we were still focused on the game.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The performance was also a much-needed confidence boost for the former San Beda standout, who had struggled from the field in previous games.
In their 87-82 win against University of the Philippines last Saturday, Cortez had 14 points but shot only 3-of-14 from the field. In their 84-83 loss to Far Eastern University, he went 2-of-14, and in the 61-60 defeat to Adamson University, he shot 2-of-7.
But beyond making shots, Cortez emphasized how everything seems to be clicking for the Green Archers.
“Well, it’s very crucial, you know, for my confidence. But not just me. Everyone started contributing. Our wings, JC Macalalag, Earl Abadam, even Vhoris Marasigan. They missed a couple shots, but these are open shots, and these are good shots that we want coming into the Final Four,” the son of La Salle legend Mike said.
“And not just that. We got Mike Phillips and Luis Pablo making their free throws, unlike me.”
With the Final Four now secured on the last day of eliminations, La Salle will face twice-to-beat, top-seeded National University.
If Wednesday’s performance is any indication, Cortez and the Green Archers might just be peaking at the perfect time.
