JACOB Cortez knows it's foolish to think he'll get the same licks on Sunday after his Game One heroics.
That's why he also anticipated the better defensive coverage University of the Philippines put on him as Jacob Bayla basically blanketed him every chance he got.
"I think everyone expected that. That's why I told my teammates to be more aggressive," he said. "It's up to me to lead them and encourage them to take those shots. Don't be hesitant."
READ: UP calls on its own Jacob to silence La Salle's 'Clutch Cat'
True enough, the leather didn't find its way to Cortez and instead, it was Vhoris Marasigan who had to take that final shot for La Salle -- a gamble that State U lived by.
And in the end, the gambit worked, with the Fighting Maroons escaping with the 66-63 victory over the Green Archers to send this UAAP Season 88 men's basketball Finals series to a decider.
Cortez, who still finished with 16 points and four rebounds, isn't surprised with the added focus that the UP defense gave on him and actually gave the opposition props.
"We already expected the aggressive defensive players that they're going to deny me, try to get me off my game. I guess it worked for this game," he said.
But like the warrior that he is, Cortez promised a tougher La Salle fight with the championship forced to a winner-take-all.
"We'll give it to them. We just got to stay ready for Game Three," he said.
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