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Derrick Pumaren is not happy that his De La Salle Green Archers are being accused of breaking health and safety protocols.
Responding to circulating rumors and reports that the La Salle basketball varsity should be investigated for conducting face-to-face conditioning drills, the veteran coach told Rappler on Thursday, September 3, that the said training sessions have only been conducted online through “Zoom workouts.”
“It’s not true,” Pumaren said sharply about the allegations, which came out a day after Bright Akhuetie and Bo Perasol of University of the Philippines were also accused for allegedly training in Cavite during the lockdown.
“It’s just unfair for the team and for La Salle itself,” added Pumaren, who admitted he was “irritated” by the allegations.
“We’ve been following protocols. We could do that also (train in person), but we did not take the chance, because we were always for the safety of our players.”
Physical training during the pandemic has become a popular topic following the blow-up of the UST Tigers’ “Sorsogon bubble,” which has seen the departure of high-profile student-athletes led by CJ Cansino and Rhenz Abando and has led to a probe by the UAAP and government agencies.
National University’s women’s volleyball team is also being probed for holding a training “bubble” outside of Metro Manila.
Moreover, Pumaren invited accusers who want proof that La Salle is only holding online training to join the team’s virtual workout session on Friday, September 4.
The session will take place via Zoom (Meeting ID: 357 595 5754; Password: 526377).
“Here’s the link for those who want to join,” texted Pumaren, who explained his players were also “pissed” by the allegations.
“Send them the link, coach,” a number of them told him.
The returning La Salle head coach, who was hired in early 2020, said his team has only conducted online training since April 6, Mondays to Fridays, in the morning.
Pumaren also stated no player has been at La Salle’s dorm – where there is a basketball court – for the last two months.
“During the lockdown when the Fil-Am players were there, nobody could come in and nobody could go out. That includes all the staff – security and everything,” he added.
“What’s important was the safety of the players and everybody.”
University of the Philippines, on the other hand, was quick to deny allegations of training through head coach Bo Perasol and College of Human Kinetics dean Kiko Diaz, who is also the university’s UAAP board representative.
“We will offer all CCTV footages of what happened. We are not in the habit of breaking rules,” said Diaz. – Rappler.com
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