By NIKOLE JAVIER
Derrick Pumaren may no longer be calling the shot for the La Salle Green Archers as head coach.
The 65-year-old tactician is yet to be informed of La Salle’s decision not to renew his contract after two years of service.
This came following a season full of disappointments and controversies towards the latter half of the UAAP Season 85 which saw the Green Archers out of the Final Four.
In Season 84 earlier this year, La Salle finished third after losing to the then-eventual champion University of the Philippines in the semifinals. However, the following season proved tougher for the Archers as they bowed out at the hands of the Adamson Soaring Falcons in their knockout match for the last semifinal spot.
Not to mention, La Salle guard Schonny Winston’s exit from the team was shrouded with more controversies on top of the already bumpy season.
Winston, who led the MVP race in the first round of the elimination, revealed that he wasn’t just nursing a strain but a torn calf for the rest of the season.
Pumaren, for his part, was anticipating Winston’s return much earlier than he could have as he recovered from the injury.
With his past stint with La Salle, Pumaren steered the team to its first UAAP title in 1989 and repeated the feat the following year.
As of late, there hasn’t been an official announcement from La Salle yet, but multiple reports state that the decision was made a couple of days ago.