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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Collegiate devider La Salle's Jacob Cortez 'just having fun'

La Salle's Jacob Cortez 'just having fun'

Published Nov 27, 2025 03:27 pm

At A Glance

  • De La Salle guard Jacob Cortez treasures the moment as he enters his first UAAP Final Four with the team his father once served two decades ago.
La Salle's Jacob Cortez (UAAP Media)
La Salle's Jacob Cortez (UAAP Media)
De La Salle guard Jacob Cortez treasures the moment as he enters his first UAAP Final Four with the team his father once served two decades ago.
The 23-year-old shifty guard demonstrated his brilliance after scoring 12 of his 20 points in the fourth to anchor the Green Archers past the Ateneo Blue Eagles, 78-72, for the last Final Four slot last Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Playing in his maiden year as a Green Archer, Cortez said he was just having fun to ease up the tension in crunchtime in the absence of EJ Gollena.
“Yeah, it's just having fun. EJ, he's usually the one who always reminds us of that, 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,” said Cortez, who also
“And at the same time, we were still focused on the game. We like to preach that we like to play defense, play hard. But it's fun for us,” he added.
The hard-earned victory not only sealed them the No. 4 spot, but was also a sweet revenge for the Archers (8-6) after they yielded to the Eagles (6-8) in their first-round encounter, 74-81, last Oct. 5, at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
La Salle now gets time to recuperate and prepare as it faces NU, a team that beat them twice in the eliminations, in the semis opener next Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the same venue.
“Still a lot of basketball to be played. Yes, we got here, but there's still a lot of games to be played,” said head coach Topex Robinson. “We know we're going to be tough against a very, very strong team in NU. We just have to be prepared for that.”
"I just feel like it's going to be one for the books. They got a lot of those fourth-year, fifth-year guys,” Phillips added. “We have a couple too. I just think, like coach [Topex] said, it couldn't be a better situation, because it's going to be one of the biggest challenges yet.”

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Jacob Cortez. La Salle Green Archers UAAP Season 88
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