De La Salle University will not be renewing the contract of Derrick Pumaren as Green Archers once it expires on December 31.
In a meeting by team officials on Tuesday afternoon, it was decided that the Green Archers will move on from Pumaren as their lead tactician after a season once full of promise ended up in another heartbreak.
Multiple sources closely monitoring the situation confirmed the development to Tiebreaker Times.
Back in January 2020, Pumaren, who led the school to back-to-back titles in UAAP Seasons 52 and 53, made his return to La Salle after 30 years.
He steered the school to a bronze finish in Season 84, finishing the elimination round with a 9-5 record before losing to UP in a deciding Game 2, 78-74.
To prepare for Season 85, Pumaren and the Green Archers competed in the Filoil Ecooil Preseason Cup and the PBA D-League, winning the latter. La Salle also set up camp in Japan to cap their preseason buildup.
Despite the depth the team had, the Green Archers struggled in the first round, racking up three wins against four losses.
In the second round, La Salle had to deal with numerous injuries with Deschon Winston (hamstring), Michael Phillips (concussion protocols), and Kevin Quiambao (COVID-19) all missing crucial games.
Still, La Salle was able to force a playoff with Adamson University on the last day of the elimination round with both teams knotted with 7-7 records.
In the knockout game, La Salle fell to Adamson, 80-76, missing the Final Four.
It was the fifth time in the last 11 years that the Green Archers missed the semis.
Now, La Salle will begin its search for their new head coach.
Multiple sources confirmed that the school is looking to tap a ‘young and brilliant local coach’ to steer the Green Archers to a better tomorrow.
