FOR the fourth straight season, siblings will suit up for La Salle in the UAAP.
The past three seasons saw Ben and Mike Phillips, followed by middle child Isaiah.
Then for Season 88, there will be talented transferees Mason Amos and Jacob Cortez, joined by younger brothers CJ and Mikey, respectively.
While all four are primed to contribute to the Green Archers' upcoming title redemption bid, they are also out to fulfill lifelong goals and make homecomings much more meaningful.
Take aim, Amos
When Mason departed the Ateneo nest in 2024, personal growth was his main motivation. And when transferring to unfamiliar territory, big adjustments are always to be expected.
READ: Amos reiterates culture is what clinched his transfer to La Salle from Ateneo
So when younger brother CJ hopped onto the Taft ride for their preseason campaigns, the adjustment period quickly became more meaningful.
“It helps a lot. But it also just helped that these guys are very welcoming. You know, they're actually they're a really good group,” said the older Amos.
The brothers repping the same squad is something that the family has long been hoping for. They attempted to make it happen on multiple occasions, but it never materialized.
So when the opportunity presented itself in La Salle, it was a moment to treasure for all of the Amoses.
“It's something that my family's been looking forward to for a long time,” said Mason. “So being able to play with my brother, it's pretty exciting. I've been waiting for this moment.
“You know, my parents are just really proud, and all my siblings. Just being able to represent the family well, just making them proud, and to be able to suit up with him, I think it's a blessing in disguise.”
Cool, Cool Kittens
What’s better than having one high-octane guard playing for your team? Having two that are cut from the same cloth.
If longtime La Salle supporters were fans of Mike Cortez in the early 2000s, then they might want to check out his sons, Jacob and Mikey.
READ: Double the joy for Mike Cortez as sons play together at La Salle
The Cortez boys already demonstrated having each other's backs in their elimination game against National U, when Mikey stepped up for his big brother, giving the Bulldogs the work late in the fourth after Jacob fouled out.
For the older Cortez, his younger brother being in St. Anthony High School in California put quite a bit of distance between them. So having Mikey here meant making up for lost time and teaming up for the glory of their dad’s alma mater.
As Jacob put it, “Siyempre, it feels good to have him back here in the Philippines. It just feels good and exciting to play with him. I haven't been watching him since he was in the States, so we're still trying to get familiar with each other. But we'll be ready for UAAP.”
“I'm just trying to indulge the whole moment. This only comes once in a lifetime. And I'm just really grateful that it all came full circle,” added Mikey.
Topex a big believer in brotherly bond
While having a brother on the same team is a feeling that only Jacob, Mason, and, previously, Mike share, they all clarified that the Green Archers, as a whole, feel like a family.
And that’s one of the biggest priorities for their head coach, Topex Robinson.
“Other people think it's different. Well, I like to consider everyone in that locker room my brother. Coach T likes to teach us the culture that he's trying to develop here in La Salle. On the court, we can show that. And off the court, it's just a whole family,” Jacob said.
“We're all very close. So I wouldn't just say it's just my brother being there, but also the team,” added Mason.
Looking at the names on La Salle’s roster, seeing the pairs of siblings may mean to some that the Green Archers open up opportunities for their players to bring their family members aboard.
But make no mistake, as they have proven, CJ and Mikey aren’t just tag-alongs added by La Salle to appease their older siblings. They are much-welcome and needed additions to the green-and-white's already-loaded lineup.
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