Veteran mentor Franz Pumaren expressed his full commitment to guiding the Adamson University Soaring Falcons, dispelling rumors that he was jockeying for the Globalport Batang Pier head coaching gig in the PBA.
Pumaren, who was hired by the San Marcelino-based program last December, also serves as a consultant for the Batang Pier. Recently, a rumor spread that Pumaren was to leave his post at Adamson after UAAP Season 79 and take the reins from current Globalport head coach Johndel Cardel.
During Globalport’s on-going run in the PBA Governor’s Cup, Pumaren has been an active figure on the sidelines, often calling the shots during timeouts.
But the former De La Salle University head coach scoffed at these notions, saying that his top priority is to revive Adamson basketball.
“I have a commitment with Adamson. I want to see this program and win a championship,” the decorated coach clarified.
“It’s a challenging opportunity for me. I like the challenge and I don’t run away from the challenge.”
Pumaren, who last coached in the UAAP in 2009, has implemented his signature suffocating full-court press with the Falcons. He steered Adamson to a playoff run in the FilOil Premiere Cup a few months back and admitted his team still has a lot of growing to do.
“They’re having a solid grasp of what we’re doing. Hopefully, they can sustain the run during FilOil. Hopefully also, I hope we can start being more aggressive compared to the previous teams,” Pumaren said.
Bringing not only his system, the 52-year-old mentor wants to shift the culture in Adamson, who last made the UAAP Final Four in 2011.
“Nothing against the previous coaches, but probably they weren’t too intense – they were just going through the motion.
“But, right now, I think they’re (Adamson players) slowly accepting their respective roles – they’re accepting that for us to be successful, we have to be aggressive and assertive,” Pumaren stressed.
“We just have a modest goal. Hopefully, we can compete in every game from opening buzzer to the final buzzer.”
