La Salle coach Derick Pumaren. TRISTAN TAMAYO/Inquirer Sports
MANILA, Philippines — Amid the reports of his impending exit from La Salle, Green Archers coach Derick Pumaren said he has not been notified by the school regarding his future with the team.
Tiebreakertimes reported on Tuesday evening that Pumaren’s contract won’t get an extension as the men’s basketball coach once it expires on December 31.
However, Pumaren bared to Inquirer Sports that the team officials haven’t formally approached him about his contract.
“They have not formally notified me,” said the Green Archers coach, who returned to the school in 2020—30 years after winning back-to-back titles in Seasons 52 and 53—in a text message.
“And if it is true, they lacked the decency to inform me before disclosing the information to the media. I believe that this DOES NOT exemplify a true La Sallian gentleman, in my opinion,” Pumaren added.
La Salle has yet to release an official statement regarding Pumaren as of posting.
Pumaren ended La Salle’s five-year Final Four drought during his first season last summer where the team finished with a 9-5 record and forced a deciding semifinal game against eventual champion University of the Philippines only to settle for a bronze medal after losing the rubber match, 78-74.
The La Salle coach led the Green Archers to fruitful preseason where they ruled the PBA D-League, won bronze in the Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup, and held a training camp in Japan.
However, the Green Archers didn’t live up to the high expectations in Season 85 as they finished with a 7-7 record and lost the playoff for No.4 to Adamson, 80-76.
In a season where he missed players one game after another, Pumaren dealt with a depleted roster in the final stretch of the season missing Schonny Winston in the whole second round due to hamstring injury, while Kevin Quiambao entered the health and safety protocols and Michael Phillips had a concussion.