Batang Gilas center Raven Cortez continues his basketball career with the green and white as he joins the La Salle Green Archers squad for the upcoming UAAP Season 83 men’s basketball tournament.

Former La Salle Zobel Junior Archer Cortez met with the Green Archers team management and head coach Derrick Pumaren over Zoom to formalize his commitment.

“Loyalty is important to me. It will be tested, but at the end of the day, the person and the player I am today is because of the La Sallian values I have grown with,” said Cortez in a statement.

“I have understood the responsibility of wearing the La Salle jersey since Grade 7, from its winning tradition, its culture, and what it truly represents.”

Cortez, who was one of the Batang Gilas twin towers with Kai Sotto, will be adding height to La Salle’s retooled squad.

In Season 84, former San Beda Red Lion Evan Nelle, NU Bullpup Kevin Quiambao, and former UST Growling Tiger Mark Nonoy will join him in making La Salle a powerhouse squad once again after back-to-back 5th place finishes in the UAAP.

Cortez, 18, will be studying civil engineering at De La Salle University.

In the last two years, Cortez battled multiple injuries which started off from an MCL sprain he picked up from the FIBA U-18 Asian championships in 2018.

The injury sidelined him from seeing action in the 2019 FIBA U-19 World Cup.

Cortez was also not able to suit up for La Salle Zobel in the Season 82 juniors tournament as he needed to recover from an ACL injury that was result of a misdiagnosis of his first injury. 

“Hopefully he has recovered from his injury and is stronger than ever,” said Sandy Arespacochaga, the head coach of Gilas youth, and assistant coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

“I’m looking forward to his development at La Salle…and also for his return and continued development not just for the UAAP, but for [both] Gilas youth and Gilas men’s as well.”

Aside from La Salle, Ateneo’s was the only other offer Cortez and his family entertained.

Cortez, for his part, would like to still be part of the national program.

“Siyempre (Of course),” he said. “Representing the country, mahalaga para sa akin ‘yun and gusto ko naman talaga ‘yun. So hindi ko tatanggalin sa plans ko (Representing the country is important for me and I really want to do that. So I won’t exclude that from my plans).”

Cortez will reunite with his former teammates, SLAM Rising Stars Joshua David and Jonnel Policarpio, at La Salle, where he plans to establish friendships with his new teammates.

He has begun joining the online workouts of the senior team on Tuesdays and Thursdays while still training with Zobel on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. – with reports from Naveen Ganglani/Rappler.com