Cortez' dual role vital to Air21 | Inquirer Sports

Cortez’ dual role vital to Air21

By: - Reporter / @MarkGiongcoINQ
/ 03:32 PM March 25, 2013

Mike Cortez of Air 21 and Tony Dela Cruz of Alaska battle for the ball At Smart Araneta. FILE PHOTOAUGUST DELA CRUZ

MANILA, Philippines – It’s hard enough to effectively run the point and even tougher to switch from being a playmaker to a scorer.

But not for Mike Cortez, ‘the Cool Cat,’ who has smoothly played his niche for streaking Air21.

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In the Express’ wins over defending PBA Commissioner’s Cup champion San Mig Coffee and GlobalPort, Cortez averaged 13.5 points and 6.0 assists per game while being asked to be a point guard and shooting guard from time to time.

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“Right now we are not only asking him to run the team but to score also,” said head coach Franz Pumaren of the 32-year-old Cortez, the first overall pick by Alaska in the 2003 draft. “That’s why once in a while we are using him as a second guard.”

Cortez made a name for himself in the UAAP as a member of De La Salle University also under Pumaren’s watch and since being reunited with his college coach in a trade, Cortez has been on a tear.

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His effectiveness was in full display after posting 13 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals in an 87-82 win over the Mixers before collecting 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists against GlobalPort last Saturday for Air21’s fourth straight win.

Cortez’ all-around game also earned him the Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week (March 18 to 24), besting Barangay Ginebra’s LA Tenorio.

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TAGS: Air21, Manila, Mike Cortez

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