Dindo Pumaren resigns as La Salle mentor

MANILA—Dindo Pumaren has resigned as head coach of La Salle just days after the Green Archers wrapped up their dismal campaign in the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.

“We didn’t reach our goal, so I think it’s time that the team moves to a new direction,” Pumaren told the Inquirer Thursday.

Pumaren, whose contract won’t expire until May next year, submitted his resignation last Wednesday along with assistants Jack Santiago, Tonichi Yturri and Lawrence Yulo.

Gee Abanilla, a Petron assistant coach in the PBA who also previously served as La Salle deputy, was floated as possible replacement.

The Archers surprisingly struggled for most of the second round and bowed out at sixth with a 5-9 card.

It was the same record the Archers had when they last missed the Final Four in 2009, the final year Pumaren’s older brother Franz served as mentor.

A former King Archer in the ’80s, Pumaren was an assistant to Franz in 2009 before taking over last year, steering the Archers to the Final Four following an 8-6 elimination run.

Pumaren also called the shots for the University of the East from 2004 to 2008 and owned a notable 50-26 win-loss record, including a 2007 elimination sweep.

His departure marks the end of La Salle’s long-time ties with the Pumaren family, which delivered all of La Salle’s seven UAAP titles.

Derrick, the eldest of the Pumaren brothers, manned the sidelines from 1986 to 1991, highlighted by title romps in 1989 and 1990.

Franz also had a successful run from his coaching debut in 1998, which kicked off a four-year title reign, before steering the Archers to another crown in 2007.