Cortez sinks go-ahead 3 as Green Archers escape Fighting Maroons in UAAP Finals opener

In need of rescue, La Salle dialed the coolest hotline no.11 of the league.

Holding a slim one-point lead in the dying moments, Jacob “Cool Cub” Cortez drained a step-back trey to hand the De La Salle Green Archers a four-point lead in crunch time to draw first blood and outlast the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons, 74-70, during the best-of-three UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball Finals at the Mall of Asia Arena, Dec. 10.

With the win, the Green Archers moved on the cusp of reclaiming the crown back to Taft against the Katipunan-native title holders.

Proving composure, the DLSU danced with disaster after sparking a seven-point run coming into the final frame to claw out of a nine-point deficit—the highest UP held in the match in the third quarter, 60-56. 

From then on, the Archers rode their newfound momentum as Luis Pablo and team captain Mike Phillips combined for a six-point run to nab a three-point cushion, 71-68.

Just as UP appeared to be knocking on La Salle’s doorstep behind a clutch two-point jumper from Harold Alarcon, Cortez shook off UP guard Reyland Torres to dish out the dagger three that gave the green-clad men a stout four-point advantage down the wire.

The ‘Cool Cub’ showed flashes of brilliance after tallying a 21-point team high score built on an efficient 66.67% field goal percentage (10-of-15 shooting) to go with four rebounds, two assists, and a steal, capped off by his heroic three-pointer in the twilight zone.

Doi Dungo backstopped Cortez after logging in 15 markers off the bench.

Graduating UP star guard Alarcon wound up with an astonishing 34-point night.

However, his offensive masterclass was proven futile as six Katipunan players ended scoreless compared to only three on Taft’s side.

The redemption-seeking Green Archers will shift their focus to closing out the series on Dec. 14 in the same venue.