For the longest time, head coach Derrick Pumaren has been a stalwart in men’s basketball, starting his coaching career in the early 1980s — a period when women’s basketball had yet to earn significant attention among Filipino basketball fans.
Pumaren’s early coaching journey saw him lead several professional men’s basketball teams, including Magnolia, San Miguel, Tanduay Rhum, Triple V, Pepsi Hotshots, Sunkist, Mobiline, and Sta. Lucia.
His collegiate coaching résumé was highlighted by guiding De La Salle University to back-to-back UAAP titles in 1989 and 1990, along with a silver-medal finish for the Philippine national team in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.
With a stellar start to his career — earning two PBA championships, a PBA Coach of the Year honor, and nine titles in the now-defunct Philippine Basketball League — Pumaren remained active well into the 2010s.
He served as head coach of his alma mater, University of the East, until 2017 and then took the reins at Centro Escolar University from 2018 to 2019.
However, an unfulfilled comeback with La Salle in UAAP Seasons 84 and 85 followed, where he struggled to bring the Green Archers back to championship form.
Then came a surprising opportunity nearly three years later — this time, in professional women’s basketball, with Discovery-Rizal in the 2025 Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
“Someone approached me to coach Discovery, and that someone is someone I cannot refuse. Kaya nandito ako ngayon, pero hindi lang naman dahil hindi ako makatanggi — pero dahil nakikitaan ko na talaga ng potential yung women’s basketball,” Pumaren said after Perlas’ dominant win over RK Hoops-Quezon City last Sunday at the Rosario Cultural and Sports Center in Batangas.
From previously mentoring the likes of Evan Nelle, Mark Nonoy, Mike Phillips, and rookie Kevin Quiambao at La Salle, Pumaren now finds himself guiding a veteran core composed of FEU Lady Tamaraws head coach Raiza Palmera-Dy, Allana Lim, and Tantoy Ferrer — all of whom have been instrumental in elevating the women’s game in the Philippines.
Thanks to the leadership and experience of Discovery-Rizal’s core, Pumaren shared that the adjustment from men’s to women’s basketball has been more manageable than expected.
“I’m also adjusting kasi it’s my first time coaching women’s basketball. Different attitudes, different mindset, and different athleticism. I’m still learning kung ano kaya nilang gawin, and I’m still learning the ropes sa kung ano pa kaya ko gawin and learning how to handle women’s basketball in general,” he admitted.
Still, many WMPBL fans were surprised when Perlas — semifinalists in last summer’s WMPBL Invitational Tournament and viewed as perennial contenders — stumbled to a 0-2 start in the regular season under Pumaren’s stewardship.
Although the early losses were disappointing for a team of their caliber, Pumaren leaned on a core principle that has guided him throughout his four-decade coaching career: defense.
That very principle proved to be the turning point as Discovery-Rizal finally broke through with a win, improving their record to 1-2 in the six-team tournament.
“We just have to play defense, ‘yan ang ine-emphasize ko mula men’s hanggang dito sa women’s. Veterans yung mga players ko pero parang hindi dumedepensa minsan ‘eh. Parang they want to beat the other team with just offense,” Pumaren concluded.
