Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Unable to barge into the Final Four in the last two seasons, De La Salle University is pinning its hopes on the mentor who led the Green Archers to their first two UAAP crowns 30 years ago.
Derrick Pumaren, who coached La Salle to the UAAP titles in 1989 and 1990, makes his return to Taft, taking over a program that last won the championship in 2016.
“The University welcomes back coach Derrick to the La Sallian community as he maps out the direction of the Green Archers,” the school said in a statement last Tuesday.
The Pumaren family has rich ties with the Green Archers with Derrick and younger brother Franz coaching La Salle to seven of its nine UAAP titles. Another sibling, Dindo Pumaren, also coached La Salle for two seasons until 2011.
Gian Nazario, who served as head coach in UAAP Season 82, and active consultant Jermain Byrd will remain as part of Pumaren’s coaching staff.
Pumaren had a rather forgettable stint as University of the East coach from 2014 to 2017, before taking over the basketball program of Centro Escolar University, which released him last December.