Derrick Pumaren aims to get La Salle back on top

MANILA, Philippines — Derrick Pumaren is fully aware of what he signed up for when he returned as head coach of La Salle’s men’s basketball team.

Pumaren steered the Green Archers to back-to-back UAAP titles in 1989 and 1990 and this time, he’s still not settling for less than that in his second tenure with the team.

“I did not come here just to work or just to coach. I’m here to win,” Pumaren, who took over the post last January, said on The Chasedown.

La Salle hasn’t won the title since 2016 back when Aldin Ayo was still at the helm.

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The Green Archers have also missed the Final Four the past two seasons.

“We’re in unfamiliar territory right now. So I have a job to do to bring La Salle back to the Final Four. That is the immediate goal of the team, and probably get the championship for La Salle,” said Pumaren, who recently had coaching stints with University of the East and Centro Escolar University before returning to Taft.

Leading the way for the Archers next season are the solid one-two punch of Aljun Melecio and Justine Baltazar.

They’ve also secured their future in landing high school standout Kevin Quiambao, ex-San Beda Red Lion Evan Nelle and former University of Santo Tomas guards Mark Nonoy and Deo Cuajao. Nonoy, an explosive scorer, was the Rookie of the Year last season.

Pumaren knows nothing is given and the grueling road to a title will have to go through a fierce rival and defending three-time champion.

“The barometer will be Ateneo so you have to put up a team that will be able to match up against Ateneo,” he said.