KEAN Baclaan’s time at National University has come to an end after two years.
Speculations on the 5-foot-8 playmaker's future away from the Bulldogs proved to be true as Baclaan will soon head elsewhere — which is highly believed to be with the UAAP Season 86 men's basketball champions De La Salle Green Archers.
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Multiple sources confirmed to SPIN.ph that Baclaan, who will be obliged to serve a one-year residency should a UAAP school be his next destination, is ready to take on an even bigger challenge as his stellar collegiate career continues to flourish.
Baclaan was part of NU's back-to-back bronze medal campaigns and dished out the team's second-best average statline of 10.6 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 4.4 assists with 24:50 minutes per game played in 14 outings.
The Muntinlupa-raised standout, who previously played for De La Salle Zobel (juniors) and University of Sto. Tomas, also ranked fifth overall in the league in assists.
Offers from multiple teams across different leagues are bound his way, but a possible X-factor that could just give La Salle the edge to secure Baclaan's services is his tight bond with childhood friend and Season 85 MVP Kevin Quiambao — who had to make a tough decision of his own to stay put with the Green Archers for at least another year.
Also rumored to be jumping ship to Taft is San Beda ace and NCAA Season 99 champion Jacob Cortez, whose two-time UAAP champion father Mike had a decorated career at La Salle.
With five notable player exits led by Evan Nelle and Mark Nonoy, the huge void in the champs' point guard position could grow bigger by the day as the prospective additions for Season 88-eligible guards Baclaan and Cortez won't suffice just yet for their back-to-back title bid in Season 87 later this year.
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