Kean Baclaan is coming home.
The former De La Salle-Zobel Junior Archer was introduced to the La Salle Green Hills community on Saturday evening during the school’s homecoming celebration.
It was a surreal moment for the 21-year-old guard as coming back to La Salle was a childhood dream of his.
“Dream school ko talaga ang La Salle since nung bata pa ko, kaya La Salle yung napili ko puntahan para sa second part ng college life ko,” said the 5-foot-8 guard, as he told Tiebreaker Times.
After graduating from DLSZ, Baclaan initially committed to the University of Santo Tomas before ultimately deciding to go to National University.
During his rookie year, he put up numbers of 8.36 points, 4.21 assists, 3.43 rebounds, and 1.64 steals per contest.
The heady guard raised his game in his sophomore year, averaging 10.73 points, 4.8 assists, and 4.53 rebounds.
However, he decided to move out of NU during the Christmas break, citing the need for personal growth.
“Alam ko rin na mag-fifit ako sa Green Archers, lalo sa sistema ni Coach Topex. Confident ako na mailalabas ni Coach Topex yung full potential ko as a player,” said Baclaan.
Playing a huge factor in his decision is getting to be with childhood friend Kevin Quiambao.
The two have gone a long way — from playing with each other in the streets of Muntinlupa to competing against each other in the UAAP.
That is why the reigning UAAP Most Valuable Player Quiambao could not hide his elation with the development
“Sobrang saya ko na makakasama ko si Kean. Sobrang special para sa akin ito, lalong lalo na para sa mga taga-Barangay Bayanan at buong Muntinlupa,” Quiambao told Tiebreaker Times.
Baclaan will spend one year in residency before getting to suit up in UAAP Season 88.
And Baclaan hopes that Quiambao will return for his senior year by then.
“Excited kasi, siyempre, finally makakapagsama kami this upcoming season kahit nasa residency ako. Hopefully, mag-stay si KQ para makapagsama kami sa La Salle at makapaglaro kami ng sabay sa UAAP, lalo ngayon na sobrang ganda ng pinapakita niya at na-scout siya ng mga pro teams at iba’t ibang bansa,” said Baclaan about his good pal.
“Sana KQ, kung mababasa mo ‘to, mag-stay ka muna.”
