CHICAGO - Basking in the afterglow of their UAAP Season 86 title run, the La Salle Green Archers are now beginning to benefit from the residual effects of being champions.
Multiple sources told me that former National University Bulldog Kean Baclaan and current San Beda Lions star Jacob Cortez would soon be slinging bows and arrows at Taft.
READ Kean Baclaan leaves NU Bulldogs after two seasons
To be clear, a La Salle official clarified that these developments are "not yet confirmed."
So let me go out on a limb here and say that the chances of La Salle snaring Baclaan and Cortez are good and excellent.
One of the premiere point guards in the country, Baclaan has that Jared Bahay DNA: Short but stocky. A natural-born leader, who is relentless and possesses a killer instinct.
Despite his best efforts, though, including a fine Season 86 where he averaged 10.7 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, NU didn't finish better than third place in his two years as a Bulldog.
La Salle makes the most sense for Baclaan.
The 5-foot-8 point guard inherits the keys of a high-octane offense vacated by Evan Nelle. He also gets to play for a dynamic coach with the added plus of frolicking in pick-and-rolls with his close pal Kevin Quiambao.
HEAVEN CAN WAIT
Per residency rules, as was applied in the case involving Dave Ildefonso (NU to Ateneo in 2020) and women's star Kent Pastrana (DLSU to UST), Baclaan would have to sit one year before turning green.
A full time starter logging roughly 29 minutes an outing, Cortez was a stud in Season 99 of the NCAA where he averaged a well-rounded 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.2 steals per game.
Showing glimpses of his famous dad Mike Corez's game - smooth and quick as a heart attack - Jacob helped San Beda climb out of an 0-1 Finals hole to beat Mapua for the title.
Now, this roaring Red Lion is ready to hunt prey in the bigger, greener landscape that is the UAAP.
Jacob is still in the United States with his family and he hasn't officially told San Beda about his future plans. But the school is bracing for his departure.
Should he go, La Salle fits like a glove.
It's the school where his dad won a championship in 2000 and 2001, the scene of his greatest triumphs.
Mike Cortez, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 PBA rookie draft, still has close ties to La Salle. Ergo, it's not hard to connect the dots.
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