Jacob Cortez could only watch from the sidelines after a knee injury forced him out of De La Salle University’s 97-88 overtime win over University of the East on Wednesday.
The graduating La Salle guard hyperextended his right leg on a drive attempt and exited with 3:27 remaining in the second quarter of their first second-round match at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“Okay lang, I’m good,” Cortez said when asked about his condition after the game.
With their floor general out, Mason Amos and Henry Agunanne stepped up to help La Salle snap its two-game skid. Amos led the Green Archers with 17 points and nine rebounds, while Agunanne added 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
Rookie Joaquin Tovera chipped in 11 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
La Salle appeared headed for a regulation victory after building a four-point cushion late in the fourth quarter, only for UE to mount a late rally to force overtime.
The Red Warriors took a 66-61 lead midway through the period before La Salle responded, but Tovera committed a costly turnover. Tope Lagat then tied the game with a basket off a steal with 9.4 seconds left.
The Green Archers, however, regained control in the extra period, turning an 84-82 deficit into a seven-point lead behind Tovera, Amos and Agunanne.
Despite the victory, Cortez acknowledged UE’s fight, as the Red Warriors pushed their opponents to the limit despite remaining winless this season.
“They finally showed that UE’s a really dangerous team, as you can tell from earlier,” he said.
(C) UAAP Season 89 Media Team
Following DLSU’s win, UE extended its losing streak to 28 games dating back to Season 87, leaving the Red Warriors with the second-longest skid in UAAP men’s basketball history.
Cortez praised his teammates for staying together despite their mistakes, particularly the younger players who had to shoulder more responsibility in his absence.
“Watching who was not on the court, just doing what I can and talking like the rookies, like JT. There were a lot of mistakes that happened, but it’s fine as long as they’re together, stay strong, and bounce back from their mistakes. That’s the main thing for today’s game,” he said.
Cortez also welcomed the performances of Amos and Agunanne, saying their production could provide a boost as the Green Archers navigate the remainder of the second round.
“Very good because we are gonna do that for our last six games this season of this round, and it’s good to see them stepping up, and I always believe that they will,” he said.
“Hopefully, this game is a good momentum booster for us.”
La Salle’s injury concerns did not end with Cortez, as Doy Dungo cramped up in the fourth quarter before Jcee Macalalag and Vhoris Marasigan also went down during the game.
Assistant coach Oliver Bunyi said the injured players would undergo medical examinations as the Green Archers race to recover ahead of their next assignment.
“We’re gonna make sure our injured players are being taken care of. In fact, some of the players will go to the hospital to be checked. Hopefully by Sunday, they are already back,” Bunyi said.
The Green Archers will face University of Santo Tomas on Sunday at the Blue Eagle Gym as they seek to build momentum in the second round.
Now at 4-4, La Salle will look to shore up its defense as it pursues a Final Four return throughout the final stretch of the elimination round.
“Defense. Defense is the main thing we really want to focus on. We had good defense not until the fourth quarter, and we have to sustain that.”
