Cortez still feels jittery despite sizzling debut

He started the game, nailed an early triple for his basket as a pro, glided for a left-handed layup in the fourth, and went on to finish with nine points, nine assists, two rebounds, a steal and a block with only two turnovers in 36 minutes.

A well-played game, a memorable debut by any standard. Yet, former La Salle Green Archer Mike "The Cool Cat" Cortez summed up his first official outing in the Philippine Basketball Association in two words: pre-opening jitters.

Winner of two UAAP championships with La Salle, Cortez seem to have downplayed all his efforts in Alaska’s 91-82 victory over Sta. Lucia Realty last Sunday as the 29th PBA season fired off with the All-Filipino Cup at the jampacked Araneta Coliseum.

"It’s going to be a learning experience everyday and I hope to learn something new everyday. Then it’s just going to get more exciting," said the six-foot spitfire armed with a soft touch from in and out, a mean drive and a prickly defense, too. Alaska coach Tim Cone, however, couldn’t hide his satisfaction.

"Mike’s just ‘gonna get better as he goes along. He’s a rookie but he already does spectacular things, which just shows you flashes of brilliance," said Cone, so blessed this year with excellent newcomers like Brandon Cablay, Stephen Padilla, Eugene Tejada and Cortez.

Cone even made a quick comparison between Cortez and Johnny Abarrientos, the former MVP who helped Alaska win tournament after tournament some years back.

"Mike really reminds me so much of Johnny in Johnny’s rookie year. Johnny would do certain things throughout the game and we’d just say ‘WHO,’" said Cone during the post-game interview at the Araneta press room.

"Like that full-court drive Mike had against Paolo (Mendoza) and he shot it with his left hand, it was just spectacular. Those fakes and those shots, just expect it from him all the time. Again, he’s just a rookie and he’s going to have some growing-up pains," he said.

Cone also took his hat off to his other rookies like but singled out Padilla as the one who provided the spark against the realtors with the former MBA swingman going 3-for-3 from rainbow country in a short stint.

"Mike and Brandon hit a couple of great tee shots for us and played some real good defense. And even Eugene came out and made some rebounds. But it was Stephen who turned the game for us. He came out to hit those three-pointers and just got us going," Cone said.

John Arigo, Alaska’s chief gunner and court leader as well, was just as excited having Cortez on the floor.

"We’re glad to have him here. And Mike really came out big (tonight). It was a great first game for us and we got a good load of confidence now going into our next game," he said.

Really can’t blame him for sounding so optimistic.