Adamson Soaring Falcons season 80 team preview – Reaching the stratosphere

JR Isaga

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Adamson Soaring Falcons season 80 team preview – Reaching the stratosphere

Josh Albelda

The core which led Adamson out of the cellar is back with years of eligibility to spare

MANILA, Philippines – For quite some time now, “Adamson” and “Soaring” seemed like an oxymoron. In a time when tigers, tamaraws, archers and eagles looked the part and intimidated those who oppose them, the Adamson Soaring Falcons (AdU) spent most of the decade grounded and humiliated.

Between Seasons 77 and 78, the other half of the UAAP’s bird section accumulated a total of 4 wins and 24 losses – good for dead last two years in a row.

However, amid all the storms the Falcons braved through, they saw a clearing. The winds have turned to their favor and all of a sudden, the hunted have become the hunters once again.

 The potent catalyst

Sometimes, all it takes is the right spark, and for Adamson, they found the perfect match to ignite the potential of their roster: coaching legend Franz Pumaren.

Pumaren rose to his legendary, albeit controversial status in basketball circles as he led the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers to four straight championships from 1998-2001, accumulating a stellar regular season record of 62 wins and only 8 losses including the 2002 season. They would go on to win one more title in 2004, beating the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws.

Controversy soon surrounded Pumaren and the Archers when it was discovered that they fielded two ineligible players, causing them to forfeit all their victories from 2003-2005. This also meant that their 2004 championship was handed down to FEU.

Pumaren went on to coach DLSU until 2009 and would not be seen in the UAAP until last season, this time as the head honcho for the Falcons. Coming off a 3-11 season, Pumaren’s leadership set the tone for a full revitalization of the Falcons program which ended with a Final Four finish of 8-6. Ironically, his former Archers squad bounced Adamson in just one game out of the playoffs thanks to their twice-to-beat advantage.

Though they may have lost, the Falcons still posted their best record in 6 years and have made their mark as a legitimate threat in the near future. Although Pumaren has since left Adamson for the PBA, his job was done. The Falcons are on the hunt once more.

Molten-hot core

Last season, the Falcons shared a distinction with National University (NU) as they were the only squads in the league to feature 3 players averaging more than 10 points a game. What sets Adamson apart from NU however, is the fact that their “Big 3” of Papi Sarr, Jerrick Ahanmisi and Robbie Manalang all have at least two years left to play together. NU’s core piece, Alfred Aroga, already maxed out his stay last season.

The fun for Adamson doesn’t stop there though. Aside from boasting a consistent, young core, the Falcons have also activated highly-touted prospect and former Ateneo Blue Eagle Jerie Pingoy. With key returnees Sean Maganti and Dawn Ochea rounding up the starting lineup, the addition of Pingoy will provide Adamson a consistent bench presence and the luxury of mixing up rotations to tailor-fit matchups for their opponents.

Basically, they have rebounding in Sarr (14.9 average), scoring from Ahanmisi (13.4 average), and passing from Manalang (2.9 average) to go along with amazing utility from the towering Maganti and Ochea (both 6-foot-5). And that’s just their starting lineup. 

With their recent sharp turnaround led by UAAP’s most decorated coaches and a roster filled with talent, Adamson looks almost unrecognizable from the dusty doormat that teams stepped on and barely noticed.

Right now, those teams better pay attention, lest the doormat sweeps them clean off their feet – Rappler.com

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