DE La Salle coach Juno Sauler may have led the Green Archers to a UAAP Season 76 seniors basketball crown but the rookie coach also gave credit to his predecessor, Gee Abanilla, for the team's rise to the top.
Sauler took over the team three weeks before the start of the season after Abanilla was moved to Petron in the PBA after a re-organization among coaches of San Miguel Corporation ballclubs in the pro league.
Abanilla’s transfer also proved to be a success as the Blaze Boosters reached the finals of the PBA Governors’ Cup.
But Sauler also gave praise to the work that Abanilla put in during the preseason and even in 2012 where he took over the Green Archers squad.
“Without the things that we worked on before I came here, (we won’t be here),” said Sauler after the Green Archers captured the title at the expense of University of Santo Tomas on Saturday.
Sauler mentioned Arnold Van Opstal’s improvement this season can also be credited to the work that Abanilla put in with the young De La Salle center.
“Offseason, he was working with the drills of coach Gee. Not just Arnold, but even the shooting, the drills that coach Gee put in,” said Sauler.
“I’m sure it made the difference also,” Sauler added.
With Sauler taking the UAAP crown, the La Salle coaches could make it a double if Abanilla wins the Governors’ Cup.
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