De La Salle University has named Juno Sauler as the new head coach of the men’s basketball team. His appointment was announced earlier today by DLSU President and Chancellor Br. Ricky Laguda FSC in a meeting with the basketball team.
Sauler replaced Gee Abanilla, after Petron management talked to DLSU officials and requested Abanilla to return to Petron Blaze as they undergo their own team re-organization. Abanilla used to hold an assistant coaching position with the said team prior to his appointment to the Taft-based squad in 2011.
Sauler has served as assistant coach of the Green Archers and Ginebra San Miguel. He also played for the Green Archers during his collegiate years.
DLSU would like to thank Gee Abanilla for his years of service to the men’s basketball team. Likewise, the Lasallian community welcomes Juno Sauler with renewed spirit and optimism as he leads the Green Archers this coming UAAP Season 76.
Players’ reaction to coaching change – Inquirer.net
“We were all shocked,” Teng told the Inquirer yesterday. “We don’t know the whole story yet, but whatever it is, we just have to adjust to it. We still have to play our best. What the players really want is to just win.”
“We just have to trust coach Juno because he’s not like a new face,” said La Salle big man Norbert Torres. “Coach Juno was there all throughout last year. I’m looking forward to how coach Juno will handle the team as the head coach because he was already so good as an assistant coach.”
Just a few days ago, it was reported that Papot Paredes has left the team and decided to just focus on his studies.
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The Green Archers will be playing on opening day of UAAP Season 76. They will face UST in the second game. First round schedule for men’s basketball has also been announced (schedules may still change). The season will start early as the league will take a couple of weeks break in early August to give way to the FIBA Asia tournament which will be held here in Manila.
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