New DLSU head coach ready to face challenges

It was a decision arrived at by both De La Salle University and Petron Blaze.

Newly-appointed Green Archers head coach Juno Sauler quelled on Monday speculations that La Salle’s disappointing finish in the Filoil Flying V Hanes Premier Cup led to the sudden dismissal of Gee Abanilla.

After racking up five straight victories, La Salle suddenly went on a tailspin in the prestigious preseason tourney, dropping three of its last four games highlighted by embarrassing back-to-back defeats against archrival Ateneo in the eliminations and San Beda in the quarterfinals.

But Sauler insisted the Green Archers’ inconsistent performance “wasn’t the main reason” but the Boosters’ initial request to have Abanilla re-assume his role as an assistant coach on the pro league club.

“They just called Coach Gee back to Petron. Whatever is the decision of the management, we’ll just have to respect and accept it. I guess they have plans for coach Gee there at Petron,” Sauler, 40, said.

A former Green Archer himself, Sauler has served as an assistant coach at Petron Blaze’s sister team, Barangay Ginebra, since 2002 and worked as Abanilla’s deputy last season when La Salle returned to the Final Four after a two-year absence.

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Sauler, who led the school’s women’s cage team to three straight titles from 1999-2001, disclosed he was formally introduced by school president and Chancellor Br. Ricky Laguda to the La Salle’s donors and alumni during a dinner at the Manila Polo Club on Sunday.

“It’s official already (that I am the team’s head coach). These things, like changes within the team’s players and the coaching staff as well, happen for a reason. Maybe I was here at the right time,” he added.

With a relatively compressed time to gear up for the upcoming UAAP Season 76 that fires off on June 29, Sauler is bent on making minor tweaking on the team’s system.

“Every coach has his own system. But with the UAAP set to start late this month, how much I can instill to the players will depend on how quick they’ll grasp my system. Kumbaga, iba-balanse ko na lang kung hanggang sa’n nila kaya,” he added.

Despite the fact forward Yutien Andrada is expected to be sidelined for the rest of Season 76 after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury, La Salle remains a genuine force to be reckoned with, thanks to the addition of blue-chip rookies Jason Perkins, Kib Montalbo and Robert Bolick.

Those three freshmen are expected to play pivotal roles along with last season’s top rookie Jeron Teng, guard Almond Vosotros and Norbert Torres as the Archers look determined to go all the way back to the top.

But Sauler has kept his optimism guarded, saying: “We have a balanced lineup now but all our opponents have also become stronger. They have bulked up with the return of some key players and the addition of African imports.”