Since Johnny Abarrientos’ departure, Alaska has struggled without a natural point guard of the Flying A’s caliber. Now that Cortez has joined the Aces, the final piece in coach Tim Cone’s puzzle is in place.
A few days ago, Cortez inked a P8.7 Million, three-year deal to suit up for Alaska. He’s expected to set the table for the Aces on the court and pair with two-guard John Arigo in an explosive backcourt tandem.
Cortez, 22, was born in San Jose, California. His parents Mike, Sr. and Cindy Salonga are both full-blooded Filipinos. He played at Carson High School and California State University at Los Angeles before transferring to La Salle on an athletic scholarship four years ago. Cortez led the Green Archers to a pair of University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) seniors titles. To prepare for the PBA, he saw action in the Philippine Basketball League (PBL).
The Star pinned down Cortez for an exclusive one-on-one interview and in 20 questions, uncovered what makes the six-foot, 175-pound pro rookie tick.
Here’s Cortez, in his own words.
STAR: What can fans expect from you in the PBA?
Cortez: They can expect the same things I brought to La Salle—a winning tradition. Everybody’s been saying how Alaska needs a true point guard so I hope to be able to fill that hole.
S: What are your strengths as a player?
C: The ability to create for my teammates, setting up the offense, and controlling the tempo of the game.
S: What are your weaknesses?
C: I’ll keep that a secret. If I tell you, everybody’s going to know.
S: How old were you when you first played basketball in an organized league?
C: I was 12 years old in Carson City. I played for a team that took second place out of 12 teams in an age-group park league. It was for 12 to 14 year old kids. I thought I played okay.
S: Who influenced your involvement in the game?
C: My family. Growing up, I played a lot with my older brother Bernard who’s now 26. And my dad, Mike, Sr.—he used to play sports with me in school, even during lunch breaks.
S: Who among the Fil-foreigners in the PBA did you play with in the US?
C: Alvin Castro, Tony de la Cruz, Don Allado, Mark Caguioa. When we were playing, none of us thought we’d someday play in the PBA. It was just fun playing with fellow Filipinos in the US because not too many of us played serious ball. Now, things are different. A lot more Filipinos are playing and hoping to make it to the PBA.
S: What was your first Alaska practice like last Wednesday?
C: I was surprised by the way I played since I hadn’t played organized basketball for a few months. I was so happy that the guys welcomed me with open arms. I met the coaches, players, and the staff. Coach Tim didn’t drive us hard too much. I think he was focused on looking at the players who were trying out—like Sunny (Margate), Eugene (Tejada), (Eric) Ryees, (Richie) Ticzon, (Alvin) Teng and (Stephen) Padilla.
S: What would you advice prospective Fil-foreigners hoping to follow in your footsteps?
C: First of all, get their papers in order. That’s the starting point to get a foot in the door. I’ll advise them to come out to play in the PBL for at least a conference so they can get adjusted to the Filipino style of basketball. The PBL is the PBA forum. If there’s an opportunity to go to a prestigious school on a scholarship, they should go for it, too. As for myself, I have a year to go at La Salle before I earn a management degree. I plan to finish up although it’s a little hard to fit in my schedule because we practice all the way in Ateneo.
S: How do you plan to cope with the pressure of being the top draft pick?
C: For me, it doesn’t matter whether I’m the first pick or the last. It’s not going to change the way I play. It’s harder to live up to being the next Johnny. But I’m ready to face up to the challenge.
S: When you’re not playing, what do you like to do?
C: I like to stay home because I’m hardly home and I stay out a lot playing or practicing or training. Sometimes, it’s just fun to stay home all day. I like playing video games or watching DVDs. I also like going to movies. I’ve got a DVD collection which includes the Superman series, some old stuff like the James Bond films, the Godfather series, and the Sopranos.
S: Who do you hang out with?
C: Off the court, I hang out with my housemate Joe Edwards, a big Fil-Am—he’s like 6-7-playing for Letran. At Alaska, I hang out with Jon (Ordonio) and Brandon (Cablay). I’d known Jon before but now, I’m getting to know him a lot more and he’s real cool.
S: Last year, Alaska got to the finals twice but didn’t win a championship. What could it have done to get over the hump?
C: Cut down on turnovers. Alaska led the league in turnovers and lost a lot of close games that went down to two or three possessions. Turnover points were a big reason why Alaska lost those close games. Alaska lacked a point guard. John (Arigo) and Kenneth (Duremdes) had to bring up the ball. It would’ve helped if Alaska had a point guard to relieve the pressure from John and Kenneth and keep them in the flow of the offense.
S: Who do you expect to be your biggest headache, matchup-wise, in the PBA?
C: Willie Miller, he’s a hard matchup. And Johnny, of course. I’m just looking forward to the challenge of competing against the best.
S: Are you thinking of settling down in the Philippines?
C: Hopefully, I’d like to settle here with my family. That’s a goal for us—my wife Joy and our eight-month-old boy Jacob. My mom who’s from Cagayan Valley is thinking of retiring here. She’s 51 and she works as a nurse. My dad is 48 and retired. He used to tend bars. He now lives in Manila. We’re three kids in the family. I’m the youngest. Our eldest is Christine who’s 28, then Bernard. I’d like to set up a couple of businesses in four to five years and settle down here. ;
S: Who do you play like in the NBA (National Basketball Association)?
C: Stephon Marbury, that’s what they say. But I’d like to play more like Jason Kidd, an all-around guard.
S: In Alaska’s triangle offense, there really isn’t a defined role for a pure point guard. Is that a problem for you?
C: I don’t think so. I know I’ve got a lot to learn, especially in playing within the triangle system. I’ll adjust to it. I know I’ve got to move a lot, pass, set picks, and create good spacing. Hopefully, I’ll get to do some shooting, too.
S: Who are your basketball heroes?
C: Locally, Johnny. In the NBA, Allen Iverson and Michael Jordan.
S: If you had a choice, which PBA team would you like to play for?
C: Alaska. I’m a big fan of the triangle and coach Tim. Alaska has a winning tradition and I think I can fit in. It’s got a great coaching staff that knows how to get the best out of the players. I hope to be part of a new Alaska dynasty.
S: You brought two titles to La Salle. Do you think you can do the same for Alaska?
C: I think I’ll be able to contribute and play a big part in bringing Alaska more than just two titles. But it’ll take a total team effort. No one player can do it alone.
S: What happened to you in Game 3 of the UAAP finals last year?
C: Anyone can have a bad game. I had a bad game that day, stats-wise. I’m only human. It happens. All the allegations and rumors made me a stronger player. Those rumors just motivated me to become a better player. What hurt me was some of the accusations came from my own camp. But I’m through with all of that. It’s behind me now. I’m just looking forward to the future, the challenge that’s ahead.