De La Salle releases head coach Derrick Pumaren

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers decided not to renew head coach Derrick Pumaren for the upcoming UAAP Season 86.

The decision came after a heartbreaking result during the recently concluded UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament where the talented Green Archers team failed to qualify in the Final Four.

Led by the big three of Schonny Winston, Mike Phillips, and Evan Nelle, the team was expected to go deep into the playoffs and even the Season 85’s ultimate chip but injuries and upsets hounded their campaign.

The Green Archers had one last chance to reverse their fortunes but lost to a banged-up Adamson Soaring Falcons squad bannered by Jerom Lastimosa.

DLSU entered the first half of the season on a high note, even taking down main rival team Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU) after five years of losing streak.

After Ateneo, the Green Archers even scored a come-from-behind win over the University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons that placed them in the top three standings for quite some time.

However, the Pumaren-led team melted down in the second round of the tournament and wasn’t able to secure their leads which led to heartbreaking defeats.

Their game against the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors was the main example after the team failed to score in the most crucial stretch of the match.

The DLSU management also confirmed their move of not renewing Pumaren and is still in search of a new chief tactician once his contract expires on December 31, 2022.

According to multiple sources including Spin.ph and Tiebreaker Times, the Green Archers are looking for a young great mind.

The shortlist of the replacement for coach Pumaren is still unavailable but rumors that PBA’s foreign guest team Bay Area Dragons’ mentor Brian Goorjan made the cut as well as Nenad Vucinic.