Pumaren sets the tone for the Warriors with ‘swaggy’ get up

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Derrick Pumaren is no longer a simple “manong,” for he is now undisputed fashion icon of the UAAP Season 80 men’s basketball tournament.

“Manong” Pumaren had done away with the simple buttoned-up red shirt of UE paired with slacks and loafers and now regularly sports adidas NMDs, printed t-shirts, an open polo, and that now trademark grey hoodie.

Put simply, Pumaren is now “Millennial Manong.”

And that sudden change is his own initiative of being closer to his players who apparently dress a little simpler than him.

“This change is for my players, because I told them after our game against UST [University of Santo Tomas] that this would be the start of our season,” said Pumaren Wednesday at Mall of Asia Arena when the Red Warriors lost 99-78 to La Salle.

UE was 0-6 prior to facing UST at the end of the first round and it was against the Growling Tigers the Red Warriors won their first game. They are now at 3-8 and still mathematically in contention for a Final Four spot.

One player, though, who encouraged Pumaren, who had clearly surpassed the half-century mark, is UE star Alvin Pasaol.

“Manong is not getting any younger so I’ve been telling him to dress that way so he’ll feel younger,” said Pasaol with a laugh.

And Pumaren doesn’t mind that he had become UAAP’s walking “outfit of the day.”

“We need to have that swag as we close the season, and if I have to set the tone for that swag,” said Pumaren laughing.