After eight games on the sidelines, Kean Baclaan finally made his return for the La Salle Green Archers.
And what better time to do it than in the UAAP Season 88 Final Four when La Salle needs him the most.
Following his recovery from an MCL strain, Baclaan contributed to the Green Archers’ 87-77 win over National University to force a do-or-die game against the top-seeded Bulldogs.
‘I want to be healthy so we can reach the Finals. I’m happy because I got to help the team now. I also got to take some load off Jacob (Cortez) so at least, I got to help the team somehow,’ he said at Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday.
‘Even if I have three turnovers. I don’t even know why I’m here,’ he added in jest.
Baclaan was still under minutes restriction, playing for only 19 minutes for the fourth-seeded Archers, but that didn’t stop him from pitching on offense as he finished with six points, two assists and a rebound.
The former NU standout gave his previous alma mater some fits as La Salle successfully neutralized the Bulldogs’ twice-to-beat advantage.
Baclaan backstopped Cortez, who finished with a team-high 13 points alongside four assists and two steals.
The job, however, isn’t finished for La Salle nor Baclaan, with a do-or-die game slated on Saturday at the same venue.
‘I’m very happy that I got to play again because this has been my dream since I was a kid,’ he said. ‘This isn’t over yet, though. We still have a game on Saturday against them again so we’ll be ready.’
Baclaan sustained his MCL injury in the first round of eliminations when the Archers took on the University of the East.