Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times
2018-pba-dleague-foundation-cup—ceu-def-chelu—derrick-pumaren
2018-pba-dleague-foundation-cup—ceu-def-chelu—derrick-pumaren

Basketball

Derrick Pumaren juggles job as coach and GM after Yong Garcia’s sudden resignation


After leaving the UE Red Warriors last November, grizzled tactician Derrick Pumaren gladly took a back seat with the Centro Escolar University Scorpions. He embraced a job as part of the back-end staff of the Scorpions as the team’s general manager.

However, a sudden turn of events brought him back to the sidelines.

Last Friday, Scorpions head coach Yong Garcia resigned from his post, citing personal reasons as they main cause of his sudden departure. With the 2018 PBA D-League Foundation Cup opening its curtain in just a few days, CEU did not look any further to find an interim chief strategist.

“He resigned last Friday. Saturday, they were still making a decision if I will handle the team. When we informed the PBA, they said na we have to make a decision,” disclosed Pumaren. “So Boss JJ [Yap] asked if I could be the coach and the general manager.

“Hindi naman ako makatanggi because it’s for the school.”

With little time to prepare, Pumaren allowed the Scorpions to run the same old plays they had. And it proved to be a good decision as CEU handily defeated the Che’Lu Revellers, 94-78.

“Well a, we’re running the same system. I’ve only been running the team for two days because of the unexpected resignation of Coach Yong. It’s good that the players were able to adjust quickly,” Pumaren shared.

Pumaren’s appointment is just the one of many changes the Scorpions had to experience during the off-season. Rod Ebondo has already exhausted his playing years while the majority of the Scorpions left the school to play for the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.

#ReadMore  Loyola, Laos look to make return with PFL

And just as he has always done during his stellar career, Pumaren has to make do with the materials he has.

We are in a rebuilding process — a new era sabi with Ebondo gone. We’re a smaller team and we got raided by Maharlika. Hopefully, we will be able to adjust. I’m proud with how the boys played especially the defense,” he said.

“As I told them that it’s not a weakness, but rather our strength.”

Written By


You May Also Like

Basketball

Centro Escolar University surged ahead in the third quarter and comfortably dispatched Diliman College 74-61, extending its reign in the Universities and Colleges Athletic...

Basketball

Centro Escolar University relied heavily on Abdul-Wahab Olusesi’s stellar performance and defeated Diliman College, 80-73, to move closer to securing a second consecutive championship...

Basketball

Centro Escolar University bolstered its bid for a first-ever back-to-back championship by outlasting Lyceum of the Philippines University-Batangas, 71-64, to secure the first finals...

DLSU

Reigning champion La Salle-Ecooil and Marinerong Pilipino-San Beda lead the six-team field cast in the 2024 PBA D-League Aspirants’ Cup, set to commence on...

Basketball

Defending champion Centro Escolar University made quick work of Guang Ming College, securing an 83-57 victory and clinching the first ticket to the semifinals...

AU

By: Luis Licas University of Perpetual Help System DALTA took down the defending champions Colegio de San Juan de Letran, 94-88, to book their...

Basketball

Daniel Marcelo ignited in the third quarter and defending champion Centro Escolar University outlasted Olivarez College 74-64 to secure the top spot in the...

AU

By Luis Licas Amiel Acido and Daniel Padilla put on a show during the seventh day of the NCAA Season 99 Juniors Basketball Tournament...

Advertisement