Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

ADMU

Franz Pumaren, Tab Baldwin express mutual respect


By: Ohmer Bautista

Respect begets respect

Adamson University head coach Franz Pumaren and Ateneo de Manila University mentor Tab Bladwin both had their cunning minds on full display, Sunday evening, as they tried to outwit and outsmart the other in the season opening tiff between the Soaring Falcons and the Blue Eagles. It was a virtual chess match.

In the end, though, Pumaren came out on top.

As Adamson took home a satisfying 74-70 win over the defending champions, the Soaring Falcons’ bench strategist confided that it had taken him everything he’s got to outlast the ever-brilliant Baldwin.

“Of course, I love coaching against Tab Baldwin.

“Talagang parang he’s a juice extractor. Talagang he squeezes whatever knowledge that I have in Basketball. You know, in a good way, he pushes to be thinking one step or a half step ahead of him,” the former De La Salle chief tactician, who won five UAAP championship, shared.

Over the past year, Baldwin and the Blue Eagles have been the gold standard. And it’s not just the way they play, but also the preparations they do for the season.

“You really have to prepare every game because everybody wants to pull you down,” Pumaren pointed out, about Ateneo being the team to beat.

“I guess if that’s the case, probably I appreciate that comment. Kahit papano medyo worried siya sa akin. Kahit nilampaso kami,” the Adamson coach quipped, as Ateneo lambasted them in the BBI Finals.

But he was not the only one who bore lingering feelings from the recently-concluded game, as the former Gilas Pilipinas head coach also echoed similar thoughts, singing praises for Pumaren and his team.

#ReadMore  CUP cager Rutger Acidre passes away

“Got to give credit to Adamson,” the multi-titled coach said.

“Doesn’t make me the all-time expert in coaching but it was fairly obvious today that his team was extremely well prepared today, they played their hearts out. And they got the results we were looking for, and we didn’t.”

As a fellow coach in one of the most challenging professions in the sports industry, Baldwin also did not shy away from lauding Pumaren as a strategist, and for a job well done.

UAAP-81-ADMU-vs.-ADU-Tab-Baldwin-2004 Franz Pumaren, Tab Baldwin express mutual respect ADMU AdU Basketball News UAAP  - philippine sports news

“Look, he’s got so much experience, he’s a successful coach,” reminded Baldwin, referring to Pumaren.

“It’s foolish for anybody to think that he isn’t gonna do a good job preparing his team, and they’re not gonna come out and play well.”

Baldwin also confessed that he personally paid his respects for his “comrade-in-arms.”

“And you ask me how I feel about coach Franz, he’s a good guy and he’a a good coach. And you all know how much love I have for the coaching profession. When I go up against guys like Franz, that’s why you saw me smiling right at him after the game because it hurts to lose, it always hurts to lose,” he shared.

“I compliment him, I acknowledge what he did. And I think I’d be dishonest in the coaching profession if I didn’t compliment him for his job as a coach.”

At the end of the day, they both know full well that they are eyeing the same ultimate prize, and as coach Baldwin put it, “I mean I can only congratulate Franz and his team [for now].

“Say we’ll see them in the second round.”

Written By


You May Also Like

AdU

De La Salle University completed a clean sweep of the elimination round, while defending UAAP champion University of the Philippines wrapped up with back-to-back...

AdU

La Salle kept its immaculate record intact in the PlayTime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive, steamrolling Far Eastern...

AdU

Adamson University-ARQ Builders escaped with a heart-pounding 86-84 overtime win against University of Santo Tomas-Weng Burs Apartelle to capture the 2025 Mayor Kirk Asis...

ADMU

At just 26 years old, Sandro Soriano has already walked the path most coaches spend decades trying to pave. From being a student manager...

ADMU

Kymani Ladi has yet to play a single UAAP game for Ateneo de Manila University, but the towering prospect is already drawing attention from...

AdU

Adamson University finally barged into the win column of the Playtime Cares Filoil 18th Preseason Cup presented by ABC Tile Adhesive after outlasting University...

AdU

Far Eastern University needed every bit of Mo Konateh’s dominance to hold off Adamson University, eking out a gritty 68-66 overtime win in the...

ADMU

Ateneo de Manila University has secured major commitments for its volleyball and basketball programs as two University of Santo Tomas high school standouts, Paolo...

Advertisement