UAAP Season 79 Preview: Pumaren, Falcons out to turn program around

New Adamson head coach Franz Pumaren. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Head Coach: Franz Pumaren
Last season: 3-11 (8th place)
Key holdovers: Papi Sarr, Jaydee Tungcab, Dawn Ochea
Key losses: Joseph Nalos, Nico Capote
Key additions: Jerrick Ahanmisi, Robbie Manalang

Known as a winner in every team he has coached for, Franz Pumaren is bringing that winner’s mentality to Adamson this season.

But the multi-titled mentor clarified that more than the victories, his goal is to steer the Soaring Falcons into the right direction.

“I’m just here to make sure that the program’s going to work,” he said.

As tedious as the work is, Pumaren is willing to undergo the process for the Adamson. And slowly but surely, he’s finally seeing some progress just before the start of the UAAP Season 79.

“We’re picking up. We’re like as a start-up company, medyo nag-increase na ng kaunti yung presto namin dahil we made it all the way to the quarterfinals (of Filoil), which I think is the highest finish that we accomplished,” he said.

Though he’ll trot out a young team, Pumaren will have Papi Sarr man the middle for Adamson, making his team one of the season’s dark horses.

That just fits with Pumaren’s timeframe as he aims to surprise a lot of fans when the season rolls on.

“Hopefully, we can compete and erase the idea that we’re happy with just competing,” he said. “Ever since, even when I was playing, I am very competitive guy. We’re here to make sure we’re going compete from the opening tip until the final buzzer.”