Romwel Anzures

De La Salle University star Jacob Cortez against Adamson University in his UAAP men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media.

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<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758435436477UAAP88 MBB - Jacob Cortez-8776.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="De La Salle University star Jacob Cortez against Adamson University in his UAAP men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media."/>De La Salle University star Jacob Cortez against Adamson University in his UAAP men’s basketball. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — Jacob Cortez has officially introduced himself in UAAP men’s basketball.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/20/uaap-jacob-cortez-shines-in-debut-as-la-salle-survives-adamson-u-1915">READ: Jacob Cortez shines in debut as La Salle survives Adamson U</a></div>After spending his early collegiate years as a University of Santo Tomas commit, and eventually a star with San Beda University in the NCAA, the 5-foot-10 guard finally made his UAAP debut on Saturday with De La Salle University.Cortez scattered 16 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals, and together with these is the go-ahead basket in crunch time to pave the way for the Green Archers’ Season 88 opening day victory over Adamson University.“It’s just crazy that I&#x27;m now on the court, also playing,” said Baclaan, who had a homecoming of sorts at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion. “It feels good to be here, but it feels better to play for La Salle.”For Cortez, what factored in his impressive outing is the chemistry that he has been continuously building with his new family in Taft Avenue.“Spending time with the guys, studying their tendencies, so it’s more of our brotherhood,” he said. “They let me do my thing, I let them do my thing. It’s really healthy, and that translates on the court.”Aside from his teammates’ support, the 23-year-old ace shared another major element that prepared him for the UAAP stage — his father, La Salle legend Mike Cortez.“It felt good. Warming up pa lang, I remember as a kid always watching him and La Salle,” said Jacob.  “Finally, after all those years, I’m now playing in La Salle. It just feels surreal, and it’s a blessing for us.”The elder Cortez — once hailed as “The Cool Cat” due to his style of play — is a proven winner with the Green Archers.The former Alaska Aces star won two championships during his time in Vito Cruz, helping La Salle in the last half of their historic four-peat from 1998 to 2001.While Jacob is already a proven winner himself, previously helping the Red Lions clinch the Season 99 title in the grand-old league, his goal is also to bring glory to La Salle like how Mike did.“We have one goal for the season, and that is to bring back the crown,” he emphasized. “So we just want to take it day by day.”And while he will continue to play under the shadow of the DLSU legacy of his dad, Jacob said that he will instead use that as fuel for his own championship chase with the Green Archers.<div>“No added pressure,” Jacob insisted. “No pressure at all, actually. It’s just, yun nga, I just turn it into motivation to do better and improve more.” RELATED VIDEO: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/whd0vnjn7-o?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>

Jacob Cortez has officially introduced himself in UAAP men’s basketball.

UAAP: Like his dad Mike, Jacob Cortez out to bring glory to La Salle

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UAAP: Like his dad Mike, Jacob Cortez out to bring glory to La Salle

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 21, 2025 03:29 PM PHT

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UAAP Season 88

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