After decommitting from the University of Santo Tomas and spending two seasons with National University, all paths led back home for Kean Baclaan — to De La Salle University — in pursuit of bigger stages and deeper playoff runs.
A standout from De La Salle Zobel, Baclaan initially committed to the Growling Tigers, even suiting up in off-season competitions like the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup and the PBA D-League. But he then had a change of heart, joining Jeff Napa’s Bulldogs.
The savvy 5-foot-7 guard could have chosen two other UAAP rivals, two top NCAA programs, or even turned professional in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League.
Yet for Baclaan, the chance to represent his dream school and continue the hunt for his first UAAP championship gave La Salle the edge over all others.
Though his transfer initially raised eyebrows in the league’s modern era of player movement, Baclaan’s decision has already paid off.
In his first year with the Green Archers, he helped the team advance to the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Finals, overturning NU’s twice-to-beat advantage to set up a championship showdown with the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons.
“Number one, syempre, thankful ako sa UST and NU. Sila nagbigay sa akin ng spotlight. Kung hindi naman dahil sa kanila, hindi rin naman ako mapupunta sa La Salle kasi syempre, na-scout ako ng La Salle,” Baclaan told Tiebreaker Times Saturday evening at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Pero, ayon nga, desisyon naman namin ng family ko ‘yon to transfer to La Salle. And I think yung desisyon naman na yon, nasa tamang daan ngayon.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Adding to the narrative twist, it was Baclaan who ultimately shut the door on NU’s title hopes — with a timely assist from backcourt partner Jacob Cortez.
Though the final play was initially designed for Cortez, Baclaan took control, sinking two crucial free throws with the championship at stake — securing La Salle’s Finals berth, honoring Cortez’s trust, and setting up the trilogy with UP.
“Nag-timeout kami and nakuha ulit namin yung bola. Yung last play kasi talaga na ‘yon is kay Jacob talaga. Sabi ni Jacob, ‘Kunin mo yung bola at pauwiin mo sila.’ ‘Yon lang tumatak sa isip ko. Sabi ko, kahit hindi sa akin yung play, kinuha ko yung bola kasi yung play para kay Jacob talaga ‘e,” the Muntinlupa-raised guard shared.
“Paglabas niya, hindi niya kinuha yung bola, pagkuha ko, ako yung kumuha then ako yung finoul. Ma-make ko lang yung dalawang ito, kasi up three [points] kami ‘eh, I think tapos na. Siguro yung kumpiyansa na ‘yon nanggaling kay Jacob.”
This trust — from Cortez and the entire Green Archers roster, who supported Baclaan through injuries — will be key as he makes his UAAP Finals debut in what he calls one of the most guard-heavy championship matchups in recent years.
With La Salle’s backcourt trio of Baclaan, Cortez, and Marasigan, the Green Archers will face a tough challenge against a Fighting Maroons team led by captain Gerry Abadiano, Harold Alarcon, Terrence Fortea, and Rey Remogat.
“Siguro, itong Finals na ito, ito yung pinaka-guard battle. May magagaling na guards din sa kabila, like Fortea, Remogat, and Alarcon. For me lang talaga, kailangan namin paghandaan sila and yung tendencies nila,” Baclaan explained.
“Nakapasok lang kami ng Finals, pero hindi pa kami nagcha-champion pa. Syempre, ‘yon yung goal namin ngayon. I think yung UP, nakapagpahinga sila, mas mahaba yung rest nila kaysa sa amin. Paghahandaan lang namin sila.”
#WATCH: HINDI PA KAMI NAGCHA-CHAMPION
Kean Baclaan vows to savor every moment in his UAAP Finals debut 🏹 🏀#ReadMore 👉 https://t.co/ji87XYH5tc
📹 @ErnestTuazon /Tiebreaker Times pic.twitter.com/wXvLqRKgE3
— Tiebreaker Times (@tiebreakertimes) December 6, 2025
