Adamson University’s rise in UAAP high school basketball has been a story of persistence paying off — but it wasn’t instant across all levels.
While the Baby Falcons’ 19-and-under squad flourished in the post-pandemic landscape, highlighted by a breakthrough championship run in Season 86, their 16-and-under program struggled to find its footing.
After a winless Season 86 campaign featuring a roster largely composed of PE students, the Baby Falcons showed only modest improvement in Season 87, scraping together three wins in 14 games to finish seventh.
That all changed in UAAP Season 88.
On November 23 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, Adamson punched its ticket to the Final Four for the first time in the division’s history, riding an 85-69 victory over Ateneo de Manila University.
Several figures deserve credit for the Baby Falcons’ resurgence: first-year head coach Dante Tongco, key holdovers Edison Jordan and Kieff Iledan, and promising newcomers Fran Flores and Uno Del Monte.
But behind the scenes, the program’s true architect has been Adamson’s 19-and-under head coach, Mike Fermin.
Tongco praised Fermin’s unwavering involvement, describing how the entire grassroots-to-seniors structure is built around his vision.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Malaki. More than half ng nangyayari dito sa coaching staff namin, dahil sa kanya. Ang laki ng tulong ni coach Mike and we’re very thankful for that. Hindi siya bumitaw and hindi siya nagpabaya. He was there every step of the way to help us,” Tongco shared.
“Of course, yung program, it has been his program talaga from here all the way to the top. He was hands-on, all the way. I really thank him.”
Iledan, a 6-foot-3 bruiser who has been part of the program for the past two years, echoed Tongco’s sentiments, highlighting Fermin’s influence beyond recruitment.
Fermin became the team’s steady motivator and sideline spark, keeping the Baby Falcons confident through tough stretches and standing by them all the way to their historic breakthrough.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Si Coach Mike, siya nagbigay ng kumpiyansa sa team na ito. Kahit ako rin, dahil kay coach Mike, nakuha ko yung kumpiyansa ko. Kumpiyansa naming lahat actually,” Iledan said.
“Hindi lang naman si coach Mike ang nagbibigay sa amin ng guidance, pati rin yung other coaches nagtutulungan para mabigay yung best para sa amin. Sabi nga ni coach Mike sa amin, laban lang hanggang sa huli,” he added.
Looking ahead to the stepladder quarterfinals against the Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws this Sunday, Tongco stressed that reaching the Final Four is already a triumph for a program that once struggled to keep pace with UAAP’s top 16-and-under teams.
“Very, very happy with what has happened here. We’ve been waiting for this for two years. Buti na lang yung boys have answered and stepped up,” said Tongco.
“Even nung first quarter na medyo masama yung galaw ng players, but they came around. Again, this win and this entrance to the Final Four for the first time have made us jubilant.”
