UAAP: Betting on himself, Kean Baclaan returns to La Salle for Final Four push

While fortune favors the bold, La Salle guard Kean Baclaan bet on himself to get back on the court and help his school’s late playoff charge.

On October 15, Baclaan’s debut season for the Green and White was abruptly put to a halt due to a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury he had suffered after a tussle for the loose ball against the University of the East.

Fearing for the worst, the five-foot-eight cager received news from his first doctor that he needed to undergo surgery, which effectively would have kept him out the whole season.

However, refusing to let his first playing year with the Taft-based squad go to waste, Baclaan sought a second opinion whilst personally doing his utmost best to get back to playing shape.

“Hindi ako pumayag kasi ayokong mag-surgery. Pag nag-surgery ako, hindi rin ako makakalaro buong season. So sabi ko kumuha kami second opinion, kahit third opinion pa…good thing naman nung second MRI ko, hindi ako ooperahan,” Baclaan said.

“Nagpursigi ako. Nag-stay ulit ako sa La Salle para [sa] therapy, makasama sa kanila, mag-practice every practice namin,” he added.

Baclaan made his return in La Salle's Game 1 win against his former team National University in this season’s Final Four, contributing six points, two rebounds, and an assist in 19 minutes of action.

Despite being happy that his team is complete again, La Salle head coach Topex Robinson said that he remains mindful of Baclaan’s recent injury, especially when a lot is at stake for the Muntinlupa-based cager.

“We’re not going to play any player that’s not 100%. We don’t want to compensate a young athlete’s career just because we want to win games…We were clear with these players that just to focus on your recovery and hopefully things will pan out,” DLSU’s tactician acclaimed.

When asked if there is no leash on Baclaan’s playing time in their do-or-die bout against the Bulldogs, Robinson echoed the same sentiments.

“Kung ano lang yung kaya…We’re not going to put Kean’s career in harm’s way. So we’re going to make sure that yung minutes that he gets will be valuable to support Jacob [Cortez] as we go through the game on Saturday.”

—JKC, GMA Integrated News