If there’s one Soaring Falcon who has stayed throughout the various reboots of the Adamson University Men’s Basketball program, it’s Simon Camacho.
Back in the off-season of UAAP Season 77, the 6-foot-4 utility forward initially tried out for then-Adamson head coach Leo Austria. However, Austria was let go by Adamson, who eventually tapped Kenneth Duremdes.
“Cavite lang ako nag-high school, walang varsity. Pagdating ko ng college, gusto ko mag-tryout sa Adamson pero alam ko sa sarili ko na ‘di ko pa kaya that time. After two years, nag-tryout ako sa Adamson under Coach Leo pa yun,” he recalled.
“Makakapasok na sana ako nun but sakto nagpalit ng coach under coach Kenneth Duremdes, so tinigil ko na rin yung pagtra-tryout.”
His journey almost took him to the Lyceum of the Philippines University. But his heart told him to stay in Adamson, and that’s what he did, becoming a full-time student from 2014-15.
But basketball came knocking again.
“Nag-give up na talaga ako sa basketball that time. Sabi ko parang gusto ko na lang makatapos ng pag-aral, then eto nanaman ‘tong basketball, nanggugulo na naman.”
Duremdes only lasted for a season with Adamson before the school’s loyal soldier Mike Fermin took over in Season 78. And it was Fermin who gave him the break he had always craved.
“Nung naging coach namin si Coach Mike, naisip ko ayaw ko na talaga, eh natanggap ako. So sabi ko, ‘Sige libre naman aral, para makakuha ako ng scholarship, makatulong sa parents ko.’ So tinanggap ko din, that time, naging Team A kaagad ako,” reflected Camacho, who is taking up a course in Information Technology.
“Then ayun na line-up ako at dirediretso na.”
But Fermin’s time in the Men’s Team only lasted a year. And stepping in was multi-titled coach Franz Pumaren, who cleaned house as he tried to change the culture of the team.
“Then nagpalit ng coach, si Coach Franz. Kinabahan na rin ako that time, wala akong skills that time, so yun,” recalled Camacho, who only logged in 41 minutes back in Season 78.
Seeing the determination of Camacho, Pumaren retained him in the lineup.
Fast forward to 2018, he has become a vital part of Pumaren’s rotation. And his importance to this batch of Soaring Falcons was highlighted during Adamson’s game against the NU Bulldogs, which saw Camacho score eight straight points in the final frame. It kept the Bulldogs grasping.
For Camacho, it’s all about knowing his role.
“‘Yun na rin yung dine-develop sa amin ni Coach Franz na hindi lang dapat kami umasa sa star players namin like Sean [Manganti], Papi [Sarr], Jerrick [Ahanmisi], dapat sometimes may mag-step up,” he shared. “Parang ‘di naman kami pinipilit ni Coach Franz na gawin yung ‘di namin kaya eh. Alam na ni Coach Franz na yung papagawa niya sa amin eh yung kaya lang namin.
“Gusto ko lang bigyan ng energy yung team. Kasi yung role ko as a defensive player, nag-convert siya to offense. Nag-start lang talaga sa defense tapos nag-convert sa offense. Masaya lang ako that time. Sobrang hyped.”
Camacho once dreamt of studying in Adamson. And that dream led to him finding his home.
