Baclaan bids La Salle goodbye

Kean Baclaan bid farewell to De La Salle University to set his sights on moving into the professional ranks.

The prized guard announced his decision to leave the Green Archers on Wednesday, citing his need to provide for his daughter, Taliyah.

“I’ve been receiving lots of offers and I’ve given it a lot of thought since Christmas. I need to go pro for my daughter,” said the 22-year-old Baclaan, who revealed in a social media post that he got rejected by La Salle twice — first was when he was still in elementary at De La Salle Zobel and, second, was during his rookie year in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) that sent him to National University.

“It’s a hard decision to make but it’s something I need to do.”

Baclaan will leave the collegiate ranks with a winning legacy.

Despite just a brief stint with the Green Archers, Baclaan helped them reclaim the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament in dramatic fashion.

He joined the Green Archers in 2024 after two years with the Bulldogs. After completing a one-year residency, the 5-foot-7 cager suited up for La Salle, which also took in other transfer students in Mason Amos, Luis Pablo and Jacob Cortez.

Unfortunately, Baclaan suffered a knee injury in his sixth game and was initially ruled out for the rest of the season.

But Baclaan made a surprise recovery, returning after missing seven games to inspire the fourth-seeded Green Archers that led to a shock victory over the topseed Bulldogs.

He then contributed greatly in La Salle’s grueling three-game finals rematch victory over dethroned University of the Philippines.

Now, Baclaan opens a new chapter in his basketball career but will forever be grateful to his La Salle family.