Malik Duff of UP Fighting Maroons. UAAP pictures
MANILA, Philippines – Despite suffering a disappointing defeat to the University of the Philippines, La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren was happy to play against his former player Malik Duf in the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
La Salle, led by Javier Lucero, failed to respond to UP’s fourth-quarter battle, losing 59-61 at the Asia Arena in the Mall on Thursday.
Although Pumaren was disappointed with their second push in the last three games, three years after being runners-up at Centro Escola University’s 2019 National Capital Region Athletic Association Championship and PBA, he was happy to see Diouf on the other side. D-League.
“I am just happy to be here. She is doing well. I hope he continues to improve his game. There is still a long way to go. The reverse is too much for him. He didn’t play well tonight, maybe he’s aware, “said Pumaren, laughing after the Senegalese 2-of-12 shot.
“But on the one hand joking, he’s there. He will rebound, he will do a lot of small things, not just score goals, ”he added.
The 6-foot-11 center finished with seven points and seven rebounds against his former coach. Both of them got a chance to talk to each other after their duel.
La Salle coach Derrick Pumaren. UAAP pictures
“I told him it was a good game for him. Just keep it up. We just had to hug each other. It’s been two years. I enrolled him in CEU and developed him where he is now, “said Pumaren.
However, the La Salle coach could not hide his frustration after the fall of their fourth quarter.
‘Work’
“When we got a seven-point lead we played to not lose. We became temporary and we just started to protect the lead. We shouldn’t have done it. UP has made a run, we have not been able to do well by blocking the rebound, ”he said. “It simply came to our notice then. We should have put a corpse on it. I think it put them in the game and they won the game, the offensive rebound. “
Pumaren added that his guards were not 100 percent against Evan Nelle and Mark Nunn UP but that should not be an excuse.
“She is OK. Hopefully we can rest them in practice and prepare them for Saturday. Mark and Evan aren’t 100 percent, but that’s not an excuse, “he said.
The Green Archers, who are third pick 4-2, want to finish their first round with a bounce back win against Adamson Falcons on Saturday.
“We still have a lot to do. We cannot be sorry for the loss and learn from the mistakes we have made, “said Pumaren.
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