MANILA, Philippines - La Salle made a surprise move as it tapped Juno Sauler to take over from Gee Abanilla as head coach of the Green Archers just three weeks before the opening of the 76th UAAP seniors basketball tournament.
Henry Atayde, La Salle’s representative to the league board, confirmed Sauler’s appointment, saying Abanilla is being recalled by his PBA mother team Petron Blaze.
“Yes, it’s confirmed. Petron is recalling Gee (Abanilla) as the team is to undergo re-organization,†Atayde told The STAR.
“Juno Sauler is the new head coach. It was announced to the team this morning (yesterday) by the Brother president Ricky Laguda and Ambassador Danding Cojuangco,†Atayde also said.
Atayde said Laguda will make the official announcement tomorrow.
La Salle made the move after the Green Archers failed to get past the quarterfinals of the Filoil summer cage tourney, suffering a painful 63-66 defeat at the hands of the San Beda Lions.
The Archers blew the game despite leading by 10 points in the final four minutes of the contest.
“I got clearance from the Brother president (Laguda) and Ambassador (Cojuangco) to give this statement,†said Atayde.
In his brief stint as La Salle coach, Abanilla steered the team to a 10-6 (win-loss) record last year with Sauler as his top assistant and Jun Limpot also a member of his coaching staff.
Sauler had been an assistant at La Salle from the time of Franz Pumaren, now coach of Air21.