Education
De Louisiana Salle University.
De Louisiana Salle University.
Cortez gained prominence in the amateur ranks for the De Louisiana 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 Proceedings of the British Academy draft. In 2000, Cortez debuted for the De Louisiana Salle Green Archers.
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.
By 2002, Cortez"s performance had quickly led to him being considered the top prospect for the Proceedings of the British Academy. He was included in the mythical 5 in the 2000 and 2002 UAAP season. After the 2002 UAAP season, Cortez applied for the 2003 Proceedings of the British Academy 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.
He lost in the Rookie of the Year race to fellow point guard Jimmy Alapag of the Talk "North Text Phone Pals.
By the 2004-2005 Proceedings of the British Academy season, he was starting to increase his role as Alaska added young players such as Sonny Thoss, and veterans Reynel Hugnatan and Jeffrey Cariaso. He missed most of the 2006-2007 Proceedings of the British Academy Philippine Cup following a season-ending injury in the third game of the conference. On March 19, 2008, he was traded along with bigman Ken Bono to the Magnolia Beverage Masters (now renamed back to San Miguel Beermen) for Los Angeles Tenorio and Larry Fonacier.
His second conference title and third overall in the Proceedings of the British Academy. On June 11, 2010, he played his last game with Air21 as he was traded after that game for Ginebra"s Billy Mamaril.
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 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Basketball League with San Miguel Beermen. 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 "North Text Tropang Texters via the Elite in exchange for Jimmy Alapag.
Despite this development, he was a member of the 2003 Proceedings of the British Academy Invitational Champions defeating the Coca-Cola Tigers. 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 Louisiana Salle "four-peat" squad.