Walking into the Filoil EcoOil Centre last week, I could feel the preseason buzz in the air—that particular energy that only comes when new talent meets historic programs. What caught my eye wasn't just the scoreboard, but the way Jacob Cortez and Mason Amos moved on the court during their La Salle debut. Smooth coordination, unspoken understanding, immediate chemistry—it got me thinking about what it truly takes to construct a championship-caliber group. This isn't just about recruiting stars; it's about architecting cohesion. And frankly, watching these two integrate so seamlessly offers a live case study on how to build a leading team in the NBA, where roster construction has become more science than accident.
Let's rewind a bit. La Salle has always been a breeding ground for disciplined, system-oriented players, but last season exposed some gaps in offensive creativity and perimeter scoring. They finished with a 10-8 record—respectable, but not dominant. Enter Cortez, a crafty guard with a scorer’s instinct, and Amos, a versatile forward who spaces the floor beautifully. In their first preseason outing, they combined for 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists. More telling than the stats, though, was their off-ball movement. Cortez driving, drawing two defenders, then kicking out to Amos for a corner three—it happened multiple times, like they’d been running sets together for years, not weeks. That kind of synergy doesn’t happen by chance. It’s cultivated.
I’ve always believed that team-building, whether in the NCAA or the NBA, hinges on three things: talent fit, role clarity, and what I call “glue dynamics”—those intangible habits that turn individuals into units. Look at the Golden State Warriors during their peak. They didn’t just stack MVPs; they built around complementary skills. Curry’s gravity opened lanes for others. Draymond’s defense triggered fast breaks. It’s the same blueprint here. Cortez is a pick-and-roll maestro, while Amos thrives as a catch-and-shoot threat or a secondary playmaker. Opponents can’t load up on one without leaving the other open. In the modern game, that two-man gravity is everything.
But talent alone doesn’t win titles. I remember speaking with a retired PBA coach who told me, “You can have the best ingredients, but if you don’t know when to simmer and when to sauté, you’ll serve garbage.” Harsh, but true. In La Salle’s system, head coach Topex Robinson seems to be emphasizing adaptability. During one possession against a tough UE press, Cortez and Amos switched assignments on the fly—Cortez flaring to the wing while Amos set a decoy screen. It broke the defense. That’s not a drawn-up play; that’s instinct born from repetition and trust. In the NBA, we see this with teams like the Miami Heat—undrafted guys outplaying stars because their system empowers decision-making, not robotic execution.
Still, let’s not ignore the challenges. Rookie integrations can falter under pressure. Amos, for instance, shot just 2-of-8 from beyond the arc in the second half of that same game. Inconsistency is the shadow of potential. But what stood out was Cortez’s response—he immediately found Amos on the next possession for an easy layup, a clear “keep shooting” message. That’s leadership in real time. If I were an NBA GM studying how to build a leading team in the NBA, I’d pay less attention to combine numbers and more to these micro-interactions. Does your point guard lift others after mistakes? Does your big man communicate on switches? These details decide close games.
Some purists argue that system-heavy approaches stifle individual brilliance. I disagree. Look at Luka Dončić in Dallas—he’s spectacular, but until the Mavs surrounded him with defensive-minded, low-usage players like Derrick Jones Jr., they struggled to advance. It’s about constructing a puzzle where every piece has edges that interlock. La Salle’s preseason run—they’ve won 4 of their last 5—isn’t just a hot streak. It’s validation of a design. Cortez and Amos aren’t just adding points; they’re expanding the team’s offensive vocabulary.
Of course, there are risks. Over-reliance on new pieces can disrupt chemistry if roles aren’t embraced. I’ve seen NBA teams crumble because a max player refused to adapt to a secondary role—cough, Brooklyn Nets superteam, cough. But early signs suggest Cortez and Amos are buying in. Post-game, Amos mentioned, “We’re not here to be heroes; we’re here to be parts.” That’s the kind of mindset that turns good teams into legends.
So where does this leave us? La Salle’s experiment is a reminder that building a great team is both art and algorithm. You need the right players, yes, but also the right environment—one that rewards sacrifice and smart basketball. As the UAAP season tips off, I’ll be watching not just for wins, but for those moments of unity: a help-defense rotation, a shared laugh during a timeout, a pass to the hot hand. Because at the end of the day, basketball isn’t played on spreadsheets. It’s played by people who trust each other. And if La Salle can keep fostering that, they might just have something special—a template, even, for how to build a leading team far beyond the collegiate stage.
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