History beckons for coach Gary Cortes

CEBU, Philippines — University of the Visayas (UV) Green Lancers head coach Gary Cortes is set to carve history in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation, Inc. (CESAFI).

To achieve it, all he needs to do is just step onto the court.

Cortes will officially become the longest-tenured college basketball coach in CESAFI when the Lancers play their first game in the league’s Season 26 against the University of San Carlos (USC) Warriors today (Sunday, August 30) at the Cebu Coliseum.

Game time is set at 3:30 p.m.

Cortes enters his 10th season with the Lancers, surpassing the nine-year stint of Elmer “Boy” Cabahug who steered UV to a record nine straight crowns from CESAFI’s inception in 2001 until 2009.

Since he took over UV’s coaching reins in 2015, Cortes guided the Lancers to a record-equalling nine consecutive finals appearances.

Cortes and the Lancers won a Grand Slam from 2016 to 2018 and then racked up four titles in a row since the league’s comeback season in 2022 after the global pandemic.

With seven trophies under his belt, Cortes is now two championships away from aligning himself with Cabahug as the winningest collegiate coaches in the 26-year history of CESAFI.

“I just love what I am doing,” Cortes answered back when asked on the secret of his longevity with the team.

“This is my passion, and a sort of advocacy for me - to guide and help young players nga makahuman og kurso sa kolehiyo while playing the game we all love ug labaw sa tanan mapalayo sila sa mga bisyo ug sa mga dautan.”

Looking ahead, Cortes said he would serve the Visayanian community as long as it takes.

“Mopadayon ko og coach hangtud seguro mapul-an na ang UV nako,” Cortes said. “Kay we all know nga walay coach nga indispensable. Bisa’g pila pa na ka championships imong nadaog, everything has an end sooner or later.”

For now, Cortes is truly happy and thankful for the trust given to him by UV and the Gullas family.

“Sa UV Admin ug sa Gullas family, daghang salamat sa pagsalig ug paghimo kanako nga champion coach.  To UV community, salamat sa padayon nga suporta nga maoy nagduslit kanamo sa pagkayod ug pagpakigbisog paingon sa kalamposan,” Cortes ended. — (FREEMAN)