La Salle’s Cortez, UST Sierba stand out in UAAP hoops week

MANILA, Philippines — De La Salle University and University of Santo Tomas went perfect to close Round 1 of the UAAP Season 88 basketball tournaments, thanks to the heroics of Jacob Cortez and Karylle Sierba, for a good momentum entering the all-important stage.

Cortez stepped up just in time in La Salle’s victories over the University of the Philippines and University of the East, while Sierba was a star against Far Eastern University and Adamson University, earning them the Collegiate Press Corps (CPC) Players of the Week nods presented by the Philippine Sports Commission for the period of October 15-19.

The former one-time NCAA champion from San Beda shone when La Salle needed him the most, putting up 26 points, five assists, four steals and two rebounds against the Red Warriors in their 111-110 overtime victory last Wednesday, as they missed Mason Amos and eventually Kean Baclaan due to MCL injuries.

Cortez then continued to flex his form as the Archers took down the defending champion UP, 72-69, in a rematch of the finals of the last two UAAP seasons. Against the Fighting Maroons, he tallied 12 points, six dimes, four boards and two steals to steer La Salle to its fourth win in seven games.

For the former Red Lion, taking over was second nature especially since the Green Archers will be missing both Amos and Baclaan at least until the end of the second round.

“I now really need to have the game in my control no matter what,” said Cortez, who bested his teammate Mike Phillips, National University’s Jake Figueroa and Paul Francisco, Adamson’s AJ Fransman, and UE’s Precious Momowei for the award sponsored by Discovery Suites and Buffalo's Wings N' Things.

For her part, Sierba erupted for UST in their 104-66 drubbing of the Lady Tamaraws last Wednesday, firing 21 points on three triples with four rebounds. She followed it up with a 16-point outing on two 3-pointers as they dominated the Lady Falcons, 79-55, on Saturday.

But even with the Growling Tigresses staying perfect after six games, Sierba emphasized that they must avoid getting complacent as their first-round campaign concludes on Wednesday when they face UP.

“Kahit sino namang kalaban, kailangan pa rin naming maging ready,” said Sierba, who prevailed over NU’s Karl Pingol and Tine Cayabyab and La Salle’s Kyla Go for the weekly citation.