AdU Appoints Franz Pumaren as New Soaring Falcons Head Coach

Adamson University officially names multi-awarded basketball player and coach Franz Pumaren as the new head coach of the Soaring Falcons men’s basketball team effective January 1, 2016.

Pumaren is a seasoned professional basketball player and multi-titled coach. He has played most of his professional basketball career in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) for the San Miguel Beermen, where he won nine championships with the team including a Grand Slam feat in 1989. In the UAAP, Pumaren led the De La Salle University Green Archers to four straight men’s basketball titles in the UAAP from 1998 to 2001 and won his final championship title with the team in 2007. After his UAAP stint, he coached the Air 21 Express team in the PBA for three seasons.

“We are putting our full trust in Franz,” says Fr. Gregorio Bañaga, Jr., CM, AdU’s outgoing president. “While we do not expect an instant transformation, we are optimistic that he and the coaching staff will build us back to become a highly competitive team in the coming seasons to live up to its name, the Soaring Falcons.”

Pumaren’s appointment comes at a most opportune time for Adamson as it tries to rebuild its basketball program and greatly improve the performance of the team. Seeking to exploit its chances, the university will count on Pumaren’s expertise and guidance to come back stronger.

It will be recalled that the last time AdU won the basketball championship in the UAAP was in 1977 when it won both the men’s and junior’s crowns. AdU made three Final Four appearances in 2006, 2010, and 2011 but since then the team has struggled to string together good results.

Also taking the lead in welcoming the veteran coach is top lighting and electrical brand, Akari, along with the team’s other supporters, Metro Stonerich Corporation and Alliance in Motion Global. The lighting and electrical brand has been a proud supporter of Adamson University’s sports programs for two years.  

“Akari is committed to back up Adamson Soaring Falcons in its bid to be a consistent UAAP title contender,” says Akari sports director Russell Balbacal. “The appointment of Coach Pumaren will definitely pave the way for the Falcons’ dream of becoming legitimate challengers.”