La Salle Green Archers' Kean Baclaan on the charity stripe in their UAAP Season 88 Final Four affair on December 3, 2025, at the Araneta Coliseum. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News
MANILA — De La Salle University received timely reinforcement as it battled the number one seed, National University, in the UAAP Season 88 collegiate men's basketball Final Four.
Previously considered out for the season due to his MCL injury, Kean Baclaan recovered just in time to face his former school and prolong the series to an all-or-nothing match on Saturday.
With Baclaan back in the fray, the Green Archers edged out the Bulldogs, 87-77, with the La Salle guard supplementing fellow winger Jacob Cortez on the hardcourt.
He contributed six points and two assists in 19 minutes of play.
READ: UAAP: Full-force La Salle flexes might, pushes National U to do-or-die
His journey to recovery wasn't exactly easy after he suffered an MCL tear due to an incident with University of the East's Wello Lingolingo in October.
After a tedious process and therapy, as Baclaan shared, he eventually got the go-signal to play—and because he also believed he would.
"Ayun nga, lagi ko lang sinasabi, sobrang happy kasi 'yun nga, nakabalik ulit ako, against pa sa former team ko. 'Yun nga, need ko lang din talaga mag-focus, para makatulong din sa loob," said Baclaan.
"'Yun nga, right after nung na-injury ako, 'yung findings kasi ooperahan ako. Nagpa-second opinion kami, ta's nawala 'yung maga. MCL nga daw, papa-therapy lang. Nagsasabi lang ako kay coach [Topex Robinson] kung ano'ng nangyayari, sabi niya, 'maniwala ka lang,'" he added.
"Nung bumalik ako para mag-therapy, sabi ni doc, 'medyo nagiging okay na 'ko.' Sabi ko, 'baka kaya pa makabalik.' Sabi nila sa 'kin, 'Balik ka, baka kaya.'"
He stayed in La Salle to fixate and focus on his therapy, said Baclaan.
"So, nagpursigi ako, nag-stay ulit ako sa La Salle. Kasi umuwi ako sa amin, e. So nag-stay ulit ako sa La Salle para mag-therapy, makasama sa kanila, every practice namin. Hopefully, mas maging maayos sa mga games."
READ: UAAP: La Salle’s Kean Baclaan out for rest of Season 88 after MCL tear
Coach Topex Robinson said that he didn't expedite his road to getting ready—including Mason Amos', who also suffered the same fate—just because they needed to win games.
According to Robinson, they won't "sacrifice" the future of their players just to "deliver."
"Well, first, we could have shortcutted the process, because of the pressure of us delivering, but we opted to do the right thing, and to make sure that we're not going to play any player that's not 100%. If you're not 100%, that means you're not ready. We don't want to compensate a young athlete's career, just because we want to win games," said Robinson.
READ: Kean Baclaan relishes encounters with former team NU: 'Binibigay ko best ko'
In the champion mentor's words, the "stars aligned" as "timely delays in schedule" gave time for Baclaan to recover, as well as Amos.
They remain cautious, however, as the Bulldogs could be more dangerous in their win-or-go-home encounter this weekend.
"Malaking bagay sa 'min 'yung bumagyo because na-delay nang one week so it gave these guys enough time. And then malaking bagay sa 'min 'yung CDC [Cheerdance Competition] kasi na-move din nang one more week 'yung last game namin ng elimination heading into this game," said Robinson.
"So, I guess all the stars are aligning our way, but obviously, game on Saturday will be harder."