Mike Cortez
Encyclopedia
Mike Cortez is a professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings
in the Philippine Basketball Association
. Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for the De La Salle Green Archers
in the UAAP and the ICTSI Archers in the Philippine Basketball League
. In 2003, he was the first overall pick of Alaska Aces
in the Annual PBA Rookie Draft.
and later Mark Cardona
, the Green Archers won the UAAP title in the two of the next three seasons from 2000-2002.
He also played in the PBL for the ICTSI Archers, a team composed mostly of DLSU players alongside then University of the East
star James Yap
. With the two playing together, ICTSI almost won a PBL title in 2001 only to be defeated by the veteran-laiden Shark Energy Drink.
By 2002, Cortez's performance had quickly led to him being considered the top prospect for the PBA.
as the top overall pick. By then, he was considered as the successor to Johnny Abarrientos
as the team's next big star at the point guard position.
However, he struggled in his first season in the pros with inconsistent performances due to Tim Cone's
triangle offense
system, and the emphasis on Ali Peek
, Don Allado
and fellow rookie Brandon Cablay
. Despite this development, he was a member of the 2003 PBA Invitational Champions defeating the Coca-Cola Tigers.
He lost in the Rookie of the Year race to fellow point guard Jimmy Alapag
of the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.
By the 2004-05 PBA season
, Cortez was starting to increase his role as Alaska added young players such as Sonny Thoss
and veterans Reynel Hugnatan
, Jeffrey Cariaso
, etc.
The next season, Cortez played probably his best season in the league, playing in a consistent level while forming a two-man tandem with Willie Miller
as Alaska almost went to the PBA Philippine Cup finals, but they lost to the eventual champion Purefoods Chunkee Giants 4-3.
Cortez missed most of the 2006-07 PBA Philippine Cup
following a season-ending injury in the third game of the conference.
On March 19, 2008, Cortez was traded along with bigman Ken Bono
to the Magnolia Beverage Masters
now renamed back into San Miguel Beermen
for L.A. Tenorio and Larry Fonacier
.
Mike Cortez received the Comeback Player of the Year award for his role in the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference trophy of the San Miguel Beermen.
On June 11, 2010 Cortez played his last game as an Air21 as he was traded after that game for Ginebra's Billy Mamaril
.
Barangay Ginebra Kings
The Barangay Ginebra Kings is a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association founded in 1979 and owned by the Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., a subsidiary of the San Miguel Corporation...
in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
. Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for the De La Salle Green Archers
De La Salle Green Archers
The De La Salle Green Archers are the men's varsity teams representing De La Salle University. The women's varsity teams are referred to as the De La Salle Lady Archers. The school's athletic program participates in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, among others...
in the UAAP and the ICTSI Archers in the Philippine Basketball League
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
. In 2003, he was the first overall pick of Alaska Aces
Alaska Aces (PBA)
The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest...
in the Annual PBA Rookie Draft.
Amateur career
In 2000, Cortez debuted for the De La Salle Green Archers. With him, veterans Ren-Ren RitualoRen-Ren Ritualo
Florendo Ritualo, Jr. better known as Renren Ritualo is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Shopinas.com Clickers...
and later Mark Cardona
Mark Cardona
Mark "Macmac" Cardona is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, the Green Archers won the UAAP title in the two of the next three seasons from 2000-2002.
He also played in the PBL for the ICTSI Archers, a team composed mostly of DLSU players alongside then University of the East
University of the East
The University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...
star James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
. With the two playing together, ICTSI almost won a PBL title in 2001 only to be defeated by the veteran-laiden Shark Energy Drink.
By 2002, Cortez's performance had quickly led to him being considered the top prospect for the PBA.
Professional career
After the 2002 UAAP season, Cortez applied for the PBA Draft and was quickly drafted by the Alaska AcesAlaska Aces (PBA)
The Alaska Aces is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association since 1986 under the ownership of the Alaska Milk Corporation and the owner of 13 PBA championships with the 2010 PBA Fiesta Conference as their latest...
as the top overall pick. By then, he was considered as the successor to Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a many-time member of the Philippine National team, and was the 1996 PBA MVP, becoming the shortest player to win the league's highest individual award.He is known by many...
as the team's next big star at the point guard position.
However, he struggled in his first season in the pros with inconsistent performances due to Tim Cone's
Tim Cone
Earl Timothy Cone, better known as Tim Cone, is an American head coach of B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association. He is known for leading the Aces to 13 PBA titles in its franchise history while leading the 1996 Milkmen to a rare PBA Grandslam. He also once coached the Philippine...
triangle offense
Triangle offense
The Triangle Offense, also known as the triple-post offense, is an offensive strategy in basketball. Its basic ideas were initially established by Hall of Fame coach Sam Barry at the University of Southern California. His system was later refined by former Kansas State University head basketball...
system, and the emphasis on Ali Peek
Ali Peek
Albert Henry Peek better known as Ali Peek is a Filipino-American professional basketball player who plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He plays mostly at the Center position, although he is also used as a Power Forward occasionally...
, Don Allado
Don Allado
Don Carlos Allado is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
and fellow rookie Brandon Cablay
Brandon Cablay
Brandon Lee Kaui Cablay is a Filipino- American professional basketball player currently playing for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association. He started his career in the PBA in 2003 as a member of the Alaska Aces. He won his first PBA championship in the 2003 PBA Invitational...
. Despite this development, he was a member of the 2003 PBA Invitational Champions defeating the Coca-Cola Tigers.
He lost in the Rookie of the Year race to fellow point guard Jimmy Alapag
Jimmy Alapag
Jim Olmedo Alapag , better known as Jimmy Alapag, is a Filipino-American professional basketball player for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
of the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.
By the 2004-05 PBA season
2004-05 PBA season
The 2004-05 PBA season is the 30th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. Instead of the usual calendar year of February-December, the league changed its schedule to the current October-July format, while limiting the number of conferences from three to two...
, Cortez was starting to increase his role as Alaska added young players such as Sonny Thoss
Sonny Thoss
Joachim Gunther Thoss, better known as Sonny Thoss, is a Filipino-Papua New Guinean professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association in the Philippines playing for the Alaska Aces...
and veterans Reynel Hugnatan
Reynel Hugnatan
Reynel Frances T. Hugnatan is a Filipino Professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Jeffrey Cariaso
Jeffrey Cariaso
Jeffrey J. Cariaso is a retired Filipino professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association. He is the former starting off-guard for the Alaska Aces.-Alaska:...
, etc.
The next season, Cortez played probably his best season in the league, playing in a consistent level while forming a two-man tandem with Willie Miller
Willie Miller (basketball player)
Willie V. Miller, Jr. , better known simply as Willie Miller, is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
as Alaska almost went to the PBA Philippine Cup finals, but they lost to the eventual champion Purefoods Chunkee Giants 4-3.
Cortez missed most of the 2006-07 PBA Philippine Cup
2006-07 PBA Philippine Cup
The 2006-07 Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup or known as the 2006-07 Talk 'N Text PBA Philippine Cup for sponsorship reasons, is the first conference of the 2006-07 PBA season. It started on September 28, 2006 in Guam and ended on February 7, 2007...
following a season-ending injury in the third game of the conference.
On March 19, 2008, Cortez was traded along with bigman Ken Bono
Ken Bono
Karl Kenneth O. Bono , better known as Ken Bono, is a Filipino basketball player, selected sixth overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2007 PBA Draft...
to the Magnolia Beverage Masters
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
now renamed back into San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
for L.A. Tenorio and Larry Fonacier
Larry Fonacier
Larry Alexander N. Fonacier is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters...
.
Mike Cortez received the Comeback Player of the Year award for his role in the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference trophy of the San Miguel Beermen.
On June 11, 2010 Cortez played his last game as an Air21 as he was traded after that game for Ginebra's Billy Mamaril
Billy Mamaril
John Billy Mamaril is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Barangay Ginebra Kings. He plays the forward and center positions...
.