Cortez, Phillips pumped up as La Salle faces rival UP on Sunday
At A Glance
- Jacob Cortez and Mike Phillips have bigger shoes to fill for La Salle as the Archers gear up for a big showdown against reigning champion UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 88 men's basketball tournament this Sunday, Oct. 19, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
De La Salle Green Archers brace for a tough duel against reigning champion University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. (UAAP Media)
Jacob Cortez and Mike Phillips have bigger shoes to fill for La Salle as the Archers gear up for a big showdown against reigning champion UP Fighting Maroons in the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament this Sunday, Oct. 19, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
Still devastated by Kean Baclaan’s season-ending MCL injury in their narrow 111-110 overtime win over University of the East last Wednesday, the Green Archers shift their attention to the massive encounter against the State U for their final first-round test.
“Excited of course, before I was just watching these La Salle-UP games, now I finally got the chance to play against them,” said Cortez, who steered the Archers past the Red Warriors with 26 points, two rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
“I’m just looking forward to it, then again, I’m still focused on what we need to do to win,” he added.
With challenges piling up for La Salle side (3-3), Cortez is keeping his head high as he continues to embrace his role for the Topex Robinson-mentored crew.
"Every game I just learn more. I learn all these players, how they play me or how they want to score against me,” Cortez continued.
“So, it's all about learning and now we have a second round to do that. But before the second round, we got UP next. So, we're going to focus on that for sure,” he added.
Phillips is likely to pour it all out with the absence of fellow big man Mason Amos.
“We're going to really prepare .I'll put my trust in our coaches to really prepare and know it's going to be a good game,” said Phillips, who is playing his final year as a Green Archer.