The Final Score: Mike Cortez is going back to the future

Air 21’s Mike Cortez is playing like it’s 2002. Cortez stunned Barako Bull with 24 points, six rebounds, six assists and five steals. I think he stunned himself too. Then, he tallied 12 points, five rebounds and 11 assists against Alaska. He was not only reunited with his old college coach, I think he rediscovered his old La Salle self as well. Is it possible? After ten years hopping from team to team, lugging along unmistakable talent, surviving injuries, outlasting expectations, can a player finally put it all together and fulfill the promise? Do you still remember how Cortez became the undisputed number one overall draft pick of 2003? That was so many iPod versions ago. Were you there when he dunked over 6’4” Sonny Tadeo (sorry Sonny) during game two of the 2002 UAAP Finals? There’s a photo of that dunk somewhere on the Internet. Do you recall how Mike Salonga Cortez morphed into the Cool Cat? Was it 2000 or 2001? Even I can’t remember exactly. Here’s what I remember. As I entered the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, I saw La Salle players scattered around the court, stretching before a game. I spotted him. The guy with the knee-high socks, thick headband and And1 shoes. I spotted that facial expression. His facial expression never changed. Before the game. During the game. After the game. Down by 10. Up by 10. It hardly moved. Like everything’s cool. He also played the point guard position like an acrobat. I watched him dribble the ball around scampering defenders and I wondered. He wasn’t a product of Milo BEST. He seemed like a product of Cirque Du Soleil. He always had some magical sense of balance. Like a cat. I approached Coach Franz Pumaren. He stood along the sideline, feet apart, arms crossed, like a drill sergeant. Even If I can’t remember it this was in 2000 or 2001, it hardly matters. Pumaren watched over a team that day that would go on to win the championship. “Coach, I have an idea for a nickname for Mike,” I said. Pumaren replied, “What is it?” “I’ve been covering your games and I think he’s as cool as ice and quick as a cat,” I explained. “Parang Cool Cat.” “Go ahead,” Pumaren, chuckling, said. “Why don’t you ask him?” To reach Cortez, I navigated around players sprawled on the court. I probably stepped on Renren Ritualo’s shooting hand accidentally (sorry RenRen, and no, it wasn’t accidental) along the way. There he was. Number 11. The point guard no back-court trapping scheme could stifle. He would go on to play for several teams in the PBA. He would suffer ACL injuries. He would make comebacks. He would be traded. He would play a decade of skilled, but not exactly mind-blowing basketball. Oh he blew minds back in the UAAP. But is it possible? For the Cortez of 2012 to find the Cortez of 2002? “Mike, how do you feel about the name Cool Cat?” He laughed. “Yeah, yeah, cool.” - AMD, GMA News