Moments after the Adamson Soaring Falcons lost to eventual champs De La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP Season 79 Final Four, then-new head coach Franz Pumaren promised that he would bring a title to San Marcelino.
“I don’t sugarcoat anything. I’m here to give Adamson a championship before my contract expires,” said Pumaren.
Fast forward to 2018, the decorated tactician’s contract is now expiring. There’s no denying the impact that he has brought to the team previously seen as a doormat, as they have become a semis fixture.
But Pumaren has yet to fulfill his vow.
But as disappointing as it is, the former PBA tactician is looking at the brighter side of things – especially with the way the program has changed since he took over the coaching reins from interim coach Mike Fermin.
“Since I took over, I think we picked up a lot of respectability,” he said.
“We were able to establish that Adamson can be a powerhouse in basketball. Right now, it’s being considered that we can be the destination for high school kids who want to be developed,” furthered Pumaren, the former DLSU head coach.
“Look at the team right now – we really don’t have big name players nor blue chip rookies. We thrive on developing and bringing out the best them.”
For Pumaren, what they have done this season 81 is already an achievement considering what happened to the program earlier this year. The Soaring Falcons lost key players Tyrus Hill and Kurt Lojera to De La Salle.
“We almost made it this year but along the road, you know, we got sabotaged eh. Naka-program na yun eh but I still have to dig deep inside me kung ano man yung, kung sino man yung available players,” Pumaren said.
“But we survived that, ‘di ba? Kasi kung walang nangyari sa ganun, siguro tuluy-tuloy ang programa namin. It’s not that because we miss them. I don’t think we miss them that bad. It just showed to you that the program is rock solid.”
Now, Pumaren is looking to take a break, but made it clear that basketball never stops for him.
“I just got to take a break. I’ll say that it is an accomplishment to be in the Final Four for the last three years but you can say that I’m a non-conformist guy. I don’t get paid to be just in the Final Four,” said the five-time UAAP champion.
“It’s kind of a frustrating year for me, expecting that we’ll be in the Finals. But like I mentioned, basketball never stops. This is just a big hump along the way. It will make the team better and stronger individually,” he added.
“I’ve been with college for the longest time. I know the ups and downs but I can be proud of the program we were able to establish here.”
