Sources: Juno Sauler resigns as DLSU Green Archers head coach

Naveen Ganglani

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Sources: Juno Sauler resigns as DLSU Green Archers head coach
Sauler spent 3 years coaching La Salle

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – A new head coach will be calling the shots for De La Salle University next UAAP season.

Green Archers head coach Juno Sauler has resigned from his post after spending 3 years with the team, sources told Rappler on Monday, November 23. Attempts to contact Sauler have not been returned.

Sauler went a total 31-19 in his tenure as La Salle’s head coach, which includes a championship and Final Four appearance.

The Green Archers went 10-4 in the elimination round of his first season and 4-1 in the Final Four and finals to win the title. The team ended the season winning 11 out of their last 12 games.

In Sauler’s second year with the team, La Salle went 10-4 again in the elimination round but was eliminated by FEU in their virtual best-of-3 Final Four series (including playoff).

Having a roster that had 9 rookies in his third year, Sauler’s Green Archers went 6-8 in 2015 and missed the Final Four for only the fourth time in La Salle’s 22 years in the UAAP. In 6 of their losses, the Green Archers led by double digits before blowing leads.

Sauler also led the Green Archers to a championship in the 2013 PCCL tournament and the 2014 FilOil tournament.

According to sources, two aspects played in Sauler’s falling out of favor with DLSU alumni: lack of player development and his stoic personality that yielded communication problems for the Green Archers – especially on the court.

Sources also say that La Salle alumni were unhappy with Sauler’s inability to make proper in-game adjustments, with some saying he stuck to his game plan to a fault.

There are 3 names being floated around as possible replacements for Sauler: former Letran coach Louie Alas, current DLSU assistant coach Siot Tanquincen, and former champion La Salle coach Franz Pumaren.

Although Alas and Tanquincen are viable options, sources say La Salle prefers to have a DLSU alumnus coaching the team, which makes Pumaren the top choice.

Pumaren, of course, is no stranger to DLSU lore. He led the Green Archers to 4 straight titles from 1998-2001, and then two more in 2004 and 2007. He last coached the team in 2009 – the only year they missed the Final Four under his tutelage.

Sources say that Pumaren is “available” and interested in a reunion with La Salle, but it may be tough seeing as he and Green Archers patron Danding Cojuangco are not on great terms. 

According to sources, the feud started in 1998 but DLSU brass hopes the two could soon bury the hatchet for Pumaren to once again coach the Green Archers. – Rappler.com

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