PARADING a young team, La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren admitted he needs someone who will provide the Green Archers veteran savvy.
Good thing prized center Justine Baltazar has opted to stay and play out his fifth and final year.
“Balty’s (Baltazar’s nickname) experience will bring stability and leadership to the team,” Pumaren told Malaya-Business Insight.
“We have a lot of new faces,” he added.
The 6-foot-8 Gilas Pilipinas standout averaged 15.1 points and a team-best 11.8 rebounds in the last UAAP cage wars in 2019.
The Green Archers, who last won the crown in 2016 under former tactician Aldin Ayo, finished with a 7-7 card for fifth in 2019 and failed to advance to the Final Four for the second straight year.
The cancellation of the 83rd season last December marked the first time the UAAP called off a season since World War II from 1941 to 1946.
The UAAP also cancelled the remainder of the 82nd season in April last year at the start of the government-imposed lockdown to stem the spread of the deadly virus and now wants to have a full calendar in the 83rd season.
Among the sports scrapped in the 82nd season were the much-awaited women’s volleyball tourney, football, baseball, softball, athletics, lawn tennis, and 3í—3 basketball.
School teams must file self-assessment report forms, a letter of intent with attached documents, including a sworn statement from the Higher Education Institutions adhering to the health regulations to prevent the spread of COVID-19; a sample of health declaration forms to be filled up in every scheduled activity by the student-athletes, coaches, trainers, and the like; and a proof of document of the activity with proper clearances from the corresponding local government units (LGUs).
