De La Salle University has lost another key player after first-year guard Kean Baclaan went down with a season-ending knee injury.

The injury bug ravaged the Green Archers, adding more woes to an already shaky campaign in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 88 men’s basketball tournament.

Baclaan sustained a medial collateral ligament (MCL) tear on his right knee based on the results of the transferee’s MRI tests.

“This is what I prepared and worked hard for the whole year, and now it’s suddenly gone just like that. I just want to say that I’m out for the entire season, and this isn’t what I wanted or expected to happen,” Baclaan said in a social media post Thursday morning as he confirmed an abrupt end to his maiden run with the Green Archers.

La Salle paid a steep price in eking out a 111-110 overtime escape over University of the East (UE) to arrest a two-game slide for an even 3-3 win-loss record last Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Baclaan was carted off the court, grimacing in pain after Wello Lingolingo landed on his leg in a mad scramble for the loose ball with 4:20 left in regulation and La Salle trailing, 84-89.

Lingolingo has been slapped with a three-game suspension on Thursday in a decision released by the UAAP through the office of commissioner Jai Reyes.

Despite losing Baclaan, the Green Archers, led by Jacob Cortez fought on and eventually completed a comeback from 21 points down in the third quarter.

“I cried so much last night and felt really down about my situation, but I just kept thinking about my future for my family and my career,” Baclaan said.

Baclaan, who left National University for the school in Taft Avenue, had 17 points, four assists, and three rebounds in what turned out to be his final game for the green and white.  

“To the DLSU community and everyone who’s been worried about me, I truly appreciate all your care and concern. Thank you so much to everyone who messaged and called to check up on me. Please don’t worry I’ll come back stronger and finish my last year at DLSU,” Baclaan said as he began his road to recovery.

The Green Archers earlier lost another first-year transferee, Mason Amos, also on an MCL tear in a 78-82 loss to National University last Sunday.

Amos hurt his right knee after colliding with Bulldog Gelo Santiago in the 7:03 mark of the fourth quarter.

Head coach Topex Robinson will have to make do with the remaining materials in his hands as La Salle battles red-hot defending champion University of the Philippines on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in a rematch of last year’s finals to end the first round.

Meanwhile, Lingolingo’s sanction came following the unsportsmanlike foul (Criteria 2) whistled on him, followed by his ejection.

The UAAP statement explained that while the referees had already called for a jump ball, Lingolingo dove for possession and landed on the right knee of Baclaan.

Upon review, it was determined that the foul involved excessive and forceful contact made by a player in an attempt to play the ball or an opponent.

Lingolingo will serve his suspension starting Sunday against Far Eastern University and in the first two games of the second round.

UE may file a motion for reconsideration regarding the suspension.