MANILA, Philippines – Even University of the East (UE) coach Derrick Pumaren found himself prone to the injury bug as the veteran mentor dislocated his patella in his right knee that forced him to wear a knee brace even as he continued calling the shots for the Red Warriors.

It was a freak accident that led to the injury, Pumaren said Wednesday after leading the Red Warriors to an 81-77 win over Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the 2017 FilOil Flying V Preseason Cup.

"Tumama ako sa silya, napuruhan. Lumabas 'yung buto [I hit my knee on a chair]," Pumaren said. "I thought it was going to be operated on, but thank God, hindi naman."

• READ: UE ends preseason on a high note at expense of Letran

Pumaren will continue to wear a knee brace for two more weeks before starting his rehab. In the meantime, he is coaching through pain and was forced to sit on the bench for most of UE's game against Letran.

"May movement na masakit [It hurts to move]," he admitted. "I cannot do the usual things na I'll stand up. It takes to stand up, mahihirapan din ako."

"But I have to do my job naman," Pumaren added. "Hindi ko tuloy ma one-on-one ang mga players ko. (But) hopefully in two weeks' time, I'll be up and driving."

UE bowed out of the FilOil tournament with a 3-5 win-loss record and missed the quarterfinals.

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