For nearly four decades, Derrick Pumaren has built a résumé filled with championships across Philippine basketball. He conquered the UAAP with La Salle, ruled the Philippine Basketball League with Magnolia and Triple-V, and won PBA titles with Sunkist.
The Women’s Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League was the lone chapter left unwritten.
Last Wednesday night, Pumaren finally completed the collection.
Steering Akari-Rizal to a dethroning of defending champion Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire in a grueling three-game Finals series, the veteran mentor captured his first title in the women’s ranks, making him a champion in every major league he has coached.
The milestone carried even greater significance after falling short in his WMPBL debut last season. Instead of walking away, Pumaren returned with unfinished business, determined to finish what they had started.
“Actually, I was asked to coach the team, to handle the women’s team. But I said, ‘Let’s try. Let’s see what happens’,” Pumaren recalled.
“I came back this season because we fell short last year, and it was a mission for me to come back. It’s not just about winning my first championship in the women’s division, but also for the girls — for my players who worked hard,” he added.
That mission was evident throughout the season. Akari-Rizal emerged as the league’s most consistent team, finishing with a league-best 9-1 record in the elimination round. The team then eliminated RK Hoops-Quezon City 10ACT in the semifinals before exacting revenge on Batangas-New Zealand Bluefire in the Finals.
(C) WMPBL
For Pumaren, however, the championship was never about adding another trophy to his already decorated résumé. It was about rewarding a team that bought into his system from opening day until the final buzzer.
“Well, I’m really proud of this group because, may I say, we dominated the season this time. They ran what they were supposed to run, the attitude was great, and everybody was on the same page,” said Pumaren.
“Except for the last game, medyo nawala kami sa concentration, but the most important thing is how we bounced back, and we bounced back hard tonight,” he added, referring to the team’s Game 2 loss.
After dropping Game 2, Akari-Rizal responded with a commanding 73-59 victory in the winner-take-all Game 3, validating Pumaren’s belief that the team had grown in every aspect.
“Well, I think we had more materials this season. We played more as a team, we were the hungrier team this time, and I think we came out and proved something tonight. I’m happy the girls really proved themselves.”
The journey also demanded a different approach from one of the country’s most accomplished coaches.
After spending decades coaching men’s teams, Pumaren admitted that handling a women’s squad required him to adapt.
“I think because I had never coached a women’s team before — this is my first time coaching a women’s team — it was challenging. I made a lot of adjustments because iba ‘yung way you handle ‘yung mga babae. It was tough. It was tough coaching a women’s team.”
Those adjustments ultimately paid off. Pumaren not only delivered the Sparks’ first WMPBL championship in just the franchise’s second season in the league, but also completed a coaching feat few can match.
“In all the levels na na-coachan ko, nag-champion ako, so I’m really happy about this championship. Especially for Akari — first year nila to handle a team, and nag-champion kaagad.”
