Miguel Ives G. Corteza (born February 23, 1998) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Blackwater Bossing of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). He played his collegiate career first with the De La Salle Green Archers in 2018 before moving to the Benilde Blazers in 2019.

Miguel Corteza
No. 12 – Blackwater Bossing
PositionPower forward / small forward
LeaguePBA
Personal information
BornFebruary 23, 1998
Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines
NationalityFilipino
Listed height6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Career information
High schoolBacolod Tay Tung High School (Bacolod)
CollegeDe La Salle
Benilde
PBA draft2024: 2nd round, 20th overall pick
Selected by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters
Playing career2024–present
Career history
2024Pampanga Giant Lanterns
2024Marikina Shoemasters
2024-presentBlackwater Bossing

During the PBA season 49 draft, he was selected by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters with the 20th pick. His draft rights were later traded to Blackwater Bossing for a future second-round pick.

High school

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Corteza represented Bacolod Tay Tung High School in the National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) Bacolod leg in 2017.[1] However, his school was upset by University of St. La Salle in the regional finals.[2]

PBA Young Stars (2014)

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Corteza was a part of PBA Young Stars under Tay Tung High School in 2014.[3] He played center when the team beat the West Negros University, scoring 14 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists to completely dominate the game [4]

NBTC (2015–2017)

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In NBTC, Corteza played for the Tay Tung Thunderbolts and contributed in the basketball scene in Negros Occidental. He also played for Team Bacolod in the 3x3 Batang Pinoy National Finals and won the title with SJ Belangel and Jesmar Pedrosa.[5]

College career

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De La Salle Green Archers

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Corteza was recruited to De La Salle Green Archers in 2018.[6] However, he left the Green Archers after one year at the same time with Aaron Waban, Jollo Go and Mark Dyke due to changes of staff and limited minutes in Season 80.[7]

Benilde Blazers (2019–2023)

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He then transferred to College of Saint Benilde.[8] When asked about his career in Taft, Corteza said in an interview with Spin.ph, "I have no bad blood with La Salle. I still support them. Lasalyano pa rin naman ako."[9] He served one year of residency before being eligible to play for the NCAA Season 97 in 2022.

Under both Coach Charles Tiu and TY Tang, Corteza was quick to be one of the main contributors of the Blazers, averaging 8.7 points and 5.5 rebounds but the team failed to secure a semifinal slot in Season 97.[9] Corteza's consistent performance made him known in the collegiate scene in NCAA Season 98.[10] He had 18 points, three rebounds, and three assists in a win over the San Sebastian Stags to start the season 2–0.[11]

They got their third straight win against the UPHSD Altas in which he had 15 points and seven rebounds.[12] Against the Letran Knights, he had 18 points and seven rebounds, but lost the ball in the last eleven seconds of the game, leading to their first loss of the season.[13]

In a win over the Mapúa Cardinals, he scored 22 points and also provided eight rebounds.[14] In a rematch with the Stags, he had 18 points as the Blazers got back into the Final Four for the first time since 2002.[15] Before the Final Four, he sprained his right ankle, but he was able to play through it.[16] In their Final Four match against the San Beda Red Lions, he only scored seven points, but grabbed 12 rebounds as the Blazers returned to the Finals for the first time in 20 years.[17]

In the Finals, they faced the defending champions, the Letran Knights.[18] In Game 1, he scored 18 points, but he and his teammates suffered cramps throughout the games and they lost. He bounced back in Game 2 with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, and the Blazers forced a do-or-die Game 3.[19] The Blazers though, couldn't get the win in Game 3, and Letran got its third straight championship.[20] He averaged 17.67 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in the Finals.[21]

To begin his senior season, he led with a game-high 21 points alongside four rebounds and five blocks in a loss to the Lyceum Pirates.[22] He scored 21 points again in a win over the JRU Heavy Bombers.[23] He then had a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds in a loss to San Beda.[24] However, they started the season 1–3.[25] In a game against the EAC Generals, he had 15 points and six rebounds before he injured his ankle in the last two minutes of that game.[26] Despite the injury, he was able to play in the next game, and nearly get a double-double with 12 points and nine rebounds.[27] They got to fourth place in the standings with a win over the Cardinals in which he had 17 points and nine rebounds.[28] Then they moved up to third place in another game against JRU in which he had 18 points and five rebounds.[29] In the Final Four, they were defeated by the Cardinals.[30] They finished third place in the tournament overall by beating Lyceum.[31] In his final game, he had 14 points.

Professional career

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Pampanga Giant Lanterns (2024)

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In February 2024, Corteza was listed in the lineup for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League's Pampanga Giant Lanterns. He made his professional debut in the 2024 Preseason Invitational in General Santos, where Pampanga won the preseason championship.[32]

Marikina Shoemasters (2024)

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In June 2024, Corteza was traded to the Marikina Shoemasters for Joe Gomez de Llaño.

Blackwater Bossing (2024–present)

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He was drafted 20th overall pick by the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the PBA season 49 draft. Shortly, ROS traded him to Blackwater Bossing in exchange for a future second-round pick.[33]

Corteza then inked a one-year deal with the Blackwater Bossing.[34]

References

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  1. ^ "Tay Tung takes Game 1 in NBTC Bacolod leg finals". SUNSTAR. January 26, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "La Salle stuns Tay Tung for NBTC reg'l crown". SUNSTAR. February 13, 2017. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  3. ^ Giongco, Mark (2014-03-26). "2014 Coca-Cola PBA Youngstars launched". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  4. ^ Sunnexdesk (2014-05-06). "BTTHS wins Coke PBA Youngstars Bacolod Leg". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  5. ^ Maungca, Von (2014-02-13). "NBTC All-Star set Feb. 16 in Bacolod". SunStar Publishing Inc. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  6. ^ Olivares, Rick (April 20, 2018). "Rebuilding Green Archers: Silent waters run deep". Philstar.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  7. ^ "Corteza and Waban move to CSB after being dropped by La Salle". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Negrense Corteza transfers from DLSU to CSB Blazers". www.panaynews.net. May 1, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  9. ^ a b "Lost in La Salle, Miggy Corteza happy to land on his feet in CSB". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  10. ^ Li, Matthew (December 3, 2022). "UAAP 'rejects' find home in Tiu's Benilde". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  11. ^ Trinidad, Paolo (September 16, 2022). "NCAA 98: Benilde's 'Big Three' runs roughshod on Baste, goes to 2–0". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  12. ^ Trinidad, Paolo (September 20, 2022). "NCAA 98: Gozum powers Benilde beatdown of Perpetual". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  13. ^ Trinidad, Paolo (September 23, 2022). "NCAA 98: Paraiso sparks, Yu finishes as Letran hands Benilde first loss". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  14. ^ Trinidad, Paolo (October 19, 2022). "NCAA 98: Gozum, Corteza power CSB to bounce back win over Mapua". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  15. ^ "Streaking Blazers down Stags, book first NCAA Final Four berth in 20 years". RAPPLER. November 15, 2022. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  16. ^ Leongson, Randolph B. (November 24, 2022). "Miggy Corteza injury a CSB concern ahead of Final Four". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  17. ^ Cruz, Zachi (November 29, 2022). "NCAA 98: CSB ends 20-year Finals drought, eliminates San Beda". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  18. ^ Li, Matthew (December 4, 2022). "NCAA 98: Letran outlasts Benilde in cramps-marred Game One, nears three-peat". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  19. ^ Trinidad, Paolo (December 11, 2022). "Corteza, Benilde do not let Letran's physicality throw them off in Game 2". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  20. ^ Li, Matthew (December 18, 2022). "NCAA 98: Letran extends dynasty, routs Benilde to secure three-peat". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  21. ^ Cruz, Zachi (December 19, 2022). "Miggy Corteza fought until the very end for Benilde". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved July 25, 2023.
  22. ^ Martin, Vito (September 24, 2023). "NCAA 99: Bravo shows way as Lyceum stuns Benilde to open campaign". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  23. ^ Villar, Joey (September 29, 2023). "Poised Blazers weather Bombers in OT". Philstar.com. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  24. ^ Times, Tiebreaker (October 1, 2023). "NCAA 99: Hot-shooting San Beda douses Benilde for second win". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  25. ^ Fuertes Jr, Rommel (October 4, 2023). "NCAA: JRU goes back-to-back, Mapua sends CSB to 1–3 start". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Martin, Vito (October 20, 2023). "NCAA 99: EAC survives Nayve flurry, scores massive win over Benilde". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  27. ^ Martin, Vito (October 22, 2023). "NCAA 99: St. Benilde dumps Letran in heated finals rematch". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  28. ^ Martin, Vito (October 25, 2023). "NCAA 99: Corteza, Gozum halt Mapua's streak, lift Benilde to share of fourth". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  29. ^ Martin, Vito (November 7, 2023). "NCAA 99: Gozum flexes MVP form as CSB guts out gritty win vs JRU". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  30. ^ Martin, Vito (November 28, 2023). "NCAA 99: Hernandez, Escamis eliminate Benilde, carry Mapua to Finals". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  31. ^ Navarro, June; Fuertes Jr, Rommel (December 10, 2023). "NCAA: Benilde beats Lyceum in battle for third". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  32. ^ "Pampanga rips South Cotabato to top MPBL preseason tilt". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  33. ^ Ramos, Gerry (July 17, 2024). "ROS trades draftee Miggy Corteza to Blackwater for future pick". Spin.ph. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  34. ^ Magallon, Reynald I. (July 24, 2024). "Blackwater signs 2nd overall pick Sedrick Barefield, other rookies Mitchell, Corteza". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 26, 2024.