Franz Pumaren will no longer return to Adamson University.
The decorated tactician has chosen to focus his efforts on being a councilor in Quezon City.
There are no hard feelings from Adamson as this is a greater calling for Pumaren.
“As Adamson University understands the desire of Coach Franz to give full-time service to his constituents in his district in Quezon City, we announce with a heavy heart that Coach Franz will cease mentoring the Adamson Falcons effective this current year,” read the school’s statement.
After coaching in the PBA from 2011 to 2014, Pumaren returned to the UAAP with Adamson in 2015.
He guided Adamson to three straight Final Four appearances while bringing in blue chip recruits to San Marcelino.
In UAAP Season 82, the Soaring Falcons missed the Final Four.
Season 82 saw Pumaren’s Final Four streak come to an end as the Soaring Falcons finished in sixth place with a 4-10 slate. UAAP Season 83 was ultimately scrapped due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Pumaren had been excited to come back to Adamson, but the ongoing pandemic made him realize that there are things bigger than basketball.
“The whole Adamson community would like to thank Coach Franz Pumaren for his unselfish sharing of his time and talent with the Adamson Men’s Varsity Team, masterfully lifting once again the standing of the Falcons in the UAAP,” the statement continued.
“His unique brand of coaching has carried the Falcons through several respectable finishes in the last five UAAP seasons which were considered by the Adamson community as the most electrifying Falcon seasons by far.”
The program will now be handled on an interim basis by Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin. Fermin previously coached Adamson back in UAAP Season 78.
