Mike Cortez

Last updated
Mike Cortez
Blackwater Bossing
Position Assistant coach
League PBA
Personal information
Born (1980-11-10) November 10, 1980 (age 42)
San Jose, California
NationalityFilipino / American
Listed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Listed weight170 lb (77 kg)
Career information
High school Carson (Carson, California)
College De La Salle University
PBA draft 2003: 1st round, 1st overall
Selected by the Alaska Aces
Playing career2003–2019
Position Point guard
Coaching career2023–present
Career history
As player:
2003–2008 Alaska Aces
2008–2010 San Miguel Beermen
2010 Air21 Express
2010–2012 Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
2012–2013 Air21 Express
2013–2015 Meralco Bolts
2015–2016 Blackwater Elite
2016–2017 GlobalPort Batang Pier
2017–2019Blackwater Elite
As coach:
2023–presentBlackwater Bossing (assistant)
Career highlights and awards

Mike Salonga Cortez (born November 10, 1980) is a Filipino-American professional basketball coach and former player. He is an assistant coach for the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played for eight franchises during his career in the PBA. Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for the De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP and the ICTSI Archers in the Philippine Basketball League. In 2003, he was the first overall pick of Alaska Aces in the 2003 PBA draft.

Contents

Amateur career

In 2000, Cortez debuted for the De La Salle Green Archers. With him, veterans Ren-Ren Ritualo and later Mark Cardona, the Green Archers won two of the three UAAP titles from 2000 to 2002.

He also played in the PBL for the ICTSI Archers, a team composed mostly of DLSU players alongside then University of the East star James Yap. With the two playing together, ICTSI almost won a PBL title in 2001 only to be defeated by the veteran-laiden Shark Energy Drink.

By 2002, Cortez's performance had quickly led to him being considered the top prospect for the PBA. He was included in the mythical 5 in the 2000 and 2002 UAAP season.

Professional career

After the 2002 UAAP season, Cortez applied for the 2003 PBA draft and was quickly drafted by the Alaska Aces as the top overall pick. By then, he was considered as the successor to Johnny Abarrientos as the team's next big star at the point guard position.

However, he struggled in his first season in the pros with inconsistent performances due to Tim Cone's triangle offense system, and the emphasis on Ali Peek, Don Allado and fellow rookie Brandon Cablay. Despite this development, he was a member of the 2003 PBA Invitational Champions defeating the Coca-Cola Tigers.

He lost in the Rookie of the Year race to fellow point guard Jimmy Alapag of the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals.

By the 2004–05 PBA season, he was starting to increase his role as Alaska added young players such as Sonny Thoss, and veterans Reynel Hugnatan and Jeffrey Cariaso.

The next season, he played probably his best season in the league, playing in a consistent level while forming a two-man tandem with Willie Miller as Alaska almost went to the PBA Philippine Cup finals, but they lost to the eventual champion Purefoods Chunkee Giants 4–3.

He missed most of the 2006–07 PBA Philippine Cup following a season-ending ACL injury in the third game of the conference.

On March 19, 2008, he was traded along with big man Ken Bono to the Magnolia Beverage Masters (now renamed back to San Miguel Beermen) for LA Tenorio and Larry Fonacier.

In 2009, after recuperating from his second ACL injury in his pro career, he received the Comeback Player of the Year award for his role in the 2009 PBA Fiesta Conference title of the San Miguel Beermen. His second conference title and third overall in the PBA.

On June 11, 2010, he played his last game with Air21 as he was traded after that game for Ginebra's Billy Mamaril.

Although he helped Alaska and San Miguel win a single title each, the Cool Cat did not win a crown with the Barangay Ginebra. But he recorded his first triple-double in his pro career with the Kings on Game 3 of the 2012 PBA Commissioner's Cup Quarterfinals against B-Meg Llamados when he registered 17 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists earning Best Player of the Game honors.

On November 7, 2012, he was traded back to the Express, in exchange for rookie Yousef Taha, where he reunited with coach Franz Pumaren, Ren-Ren Ritualo and Cholo Villanueva — all members of the 2001 La Salle four-peat squad.

On September 6, 2013, he was traded to Meralco Bolts in exchange for the rights of Asi Taulava, who at that time was coming off a successful campaign in the ASEAN Basketball League with San Miguel Beermen. [1]

On August 7, 2015, Cortez and James Sena were traded by Meralco to the Blackwater Elite in exchange for Larry Rodriguez, who was also traded by the Bolts to the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters via the Elite in exchange for Jimmy Alapag. [2]

On September 1, 2016 he was traded by the Blackwater Elite to the GlobalPort Batang Pier in exchange for Ronald Pascual.

PBA career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GSGames started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field-goal percentage 3P%  3-point field-goal percentage FT%  Free-throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

[3] [4]

Season-by-season averages

YearTeamGPMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2003 Alaska 5634.9.401.262.7824.44.21.5.411.4
2004–05 Alaska 5734.4.391.382.7744.15.51.1.312.3
2005–06 Alaska 4633.4.408.313.7084.04.8.9.212.8
2006–07 Alaska 2327.7.437.270.7163.43.61.4.111.3
2007–08 Alaska 5529.6.416.349.7653.84.41.0.410.8
Magnolia
2008–09 San Miguel 1920.4.392.328.6792.62.3.5.38.9
2009–10 San Miguel 4923.4.429.325.7823.43.4.9.29.4
Air21
Barangay Ginebra
2010–11 Barangay Ginebra 5723.4.396.340.7353.12.9.6.36.8
2011–12 Barangay Ginebra 4527.9.395.414.7403.93.8.9.29.4
2012–13 Barangay Ginebra 4228.1.414.338.6444.44.31.3.29.3
Air21
2013–14 Meralco 1531.6.481.404.7933.35.3.7.411.5
2014–15 Meralco 4126.3.374.316.5942.82.9.8.16.6
2015–16 Blackwater 2731.9.410.304.8513.74.31.0.29.9
2016–17 GlobalPort 3623.3.444.388.7783.22.1.9.16.9
2017–18 Blackwater 2314.0.380.350.6922.01.7.6.13.3
2019 Blackwater 3016.4.426.2371.0001.91.7.9.03.1
Career62127.5.408.338.7473.53.71.0.29.3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TNT Tropang Giga</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The TNT Tropang Giga is a professional basketball team currently owned by Smart Communications, a subsidiary of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), playing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) since 1990.

Florendo R. "Renren" Ritualo Jr. is a Filipino former professional basketball player and current assistant coach. He last played for the Shopinas.com Clickers of the Philippine Basketball Association and is currently an assistant coach for the Adamson Falcons in the UAAP. Nicknamed The Rainman, Ritualo was also a one-time member of the Philippine National Team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barako Bull Energy</span> Philippine Basketball Association team

The Barako Bull Energy were a Philippine Basketball Association team that began in 2002 as the FedEx Express.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barako Bull Energy Boosters</span> Basketball team

The Barako Bull Energy Boosters were a professional basketball team of the Philippine Basketball Association owned by the Photokina Marketing Corporation. They entered the league in 2000 after a successful stint in the semi-professional Philippine Basketball League during the late 1990s under the name Agfa Color where the team won a championship in 1996. It was originally known as Red Bull Barako before the team announced its name change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asi Taulava</span> Filipino-Tongan basketball player

Pauliasi Taulava is a Tongan-born Filipino former professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Cardona</span> Filipino basketball player

Mark Reynan Mikesell Cardona is a Filipino professional basketball player for Imus SV Squad of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). From a successful college career with the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, Cardona was taken fifth overall by Air21 Express in the 2005 PBA draft. A five-time PBA All-Star, Cardona was the PBA scoring champion in 2008 and won the 2008–09 PBA Philippine Cup and Finals MVP award with Talk 'N Text.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006–07 PBA season</span> 32nd PBA season

The 2006–07 PBA season was the 32nd season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). The season started September 28 in Guam and began its formal opening on October 1 at the Araneta Coliseum, and ended on July 20. The league started the season with the All-Filipino Conference, now known as the PBA Philippine Cup while the PBA Fiesta Conference, an import laced tournament, ended the season.

Jose Enrico Pascual Villanueva is a Filipino former professional basketball player. He last played for the NLEX Road Warriors of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2007–08 PBA season</span> 33rd PBA season

The 2007–08 PBA season was the 33rd season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season was formally opened on October 14, 2007, at the Araneta Coliseum. The league started the season with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference, while capping off the season with the import-laiden Fiesta Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008–09 PBA season</span> 34th PBA season

The 2008–09 PBA season was the 34th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on October 4, 2008 and ended on July 17, 2009. This was the first time that the league will hold their opening ceremonies on a Saturday. The league started the season with the 2008-09 Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference, while capping off the season with the import-laiden 2009 Fiesta Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary David</span> Filipino basketball player and politician

Gary Ocampo David is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He is a five-time All-Star and co-holds the longest streak for consecutive games recording 20 points or more. Famously known as "El Granada" or "Mr. Pure Energy", he is widely hailed by fans and Hall of Famers as one of the best scorers of all-time in the PBA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aries Dimaunahan</span> Filipino basketball player and coach

Aristeo "Aries" Dimaunahan is a Filipino former professional basketball player who is the assistant coach of the Blackwater Bossing in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), and is the currently the head coach of the NU Lady Bulldogs of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nonoy Baclao</span> Filipino basketball player

Siverino A. "Nonoy" Baclao Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the San Miguel Beermen of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). A forward, he played three seasons for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines from 2007 to 2009 and led the Eagles to back-to-back basketball championships in his last two seasons with them. He also played for the Philippine Patriots in the ASEAN Basketball League and led the team as the inaugural champion of the 2009-10 ABL season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 PBA draft</span>

The 2010 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft was an event held at Market! Market! in Taguig on August 29, 2010 that allowed PBA teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. Players who applied for the draft went through a rookie camp that lasted a week. The San Miguel Beermen were the only team that did not have a single pick in the draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010–11 PBA season</span> 36th PBA season

The 2010–11 PBA season was the 36th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. It started on October 3, 2010 and ended on August 21, 2011. The season marked the return of the original three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference. The import-laden Commissioner's Cup returned as the second tournament, while the Governors' Cup also returned, serving as the third conference which also served as an import-laden tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meralco Bolts</span> Philippine professional basketball team

The Meralco Bolts is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team began in 2010 after the Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) acquired the PBA franchise of the Sta. Lucia Realtors. The team is one of three PBA teams presently under the control of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan – the other teams being the TNT Tropang Giga and the NLEX Road Warriors.

The 2010–11 Powerade Tigers season was the ninth season of the franchise in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 PBA draft</span>

The 2012 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) rookie draft was an event held at Robinson's Midtown Mall in Ermita, Manila on August 19, 2012 which allowed PBA teams to draft players from the amateur ranks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2013–14 PBA season</span> 39th PBA season

The 2013–14 PBA season was the 39th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on November 17, 2013, and finished on July 9, 2014. The league continued to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup, or the traditional All-Filipino Conference. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup is the second and third conferences for this season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014–15 PBA season</span> 40th PBA season

The 2014–15 PBA season was the 40th season of the Philippine Basketball Association. The season formally opened on October 19, 2014, and finished on July 17, 2015. The league continued to use the three-conference format, starting with the Philippine Cup. The Commissioner's Cup and the Governors' Cup were the second and third conferences for this season, respectively.

References

  1. ↑ Badua, Snow (September 6, 2013). "Air21 Express acquire Taulava from Meralco in exchange for Cortez". Spin.ph. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  2. ↑ Ganglani, Naveen (August 7, 2015). "Jimmy Alapag to come out of retirement, will join Meralco after trade". Rappler . Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  3. ↑ PBA-Online.net
  4. ↑ RealGM.com
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.