MANILA, Philippines – The Adamson University Soaring Falcons have already exceeded head coach Franz Pumaren's expectations by making it to the Final 4 in just his very first season in charge. But the multi-time champion mentor believes they can continue pulling off surprises in the semifinals.
A loss to Ateneo de Manila University in the last day of the elimination round pegged Adamson's record at 8-6, forcing them to settle for the fourth seed and into a Final 4 showdown against league-leading De Lalle University (13-1).
Adamson has not won against La Salle this season, and the Green Archers will only need to beat them once in the Final 4 to advance to the best-of-three championship series.
"My mindset right now is we have nothing to lose," Pumaren told reporters after their loss on Wednesday.
"It will be exciting," he said of the Final 4. "But you have to look at the whole picture – we're playing the best team right now. Hopefully, we can accept the challenge."
La Salle crushed Adamson, 91-75, in Round 1, then claimed an 86-79 victory in the second round of the eliminations. Pumaren won't deny that they will once again be massive underdogs against the Green Archers in the Final 4.
"They're supposed to be 14-0," Pumaren said of La Salle, which was denied a sweep by archrival Ateneo de Manila University. "With that kind of line-up, they should really be dominating the whole UAAP."
La Salle has "probably the best player right now in the UAAP" in MVP favorite Ben Mbala, and the best small forward in Jeron Teng, added Pumaren.
The Falcons have a stout line-up as well, bannered by Papi Sarr and young Fil-Am guards Jerrick Ahanmisi and Robbie Manalang, but so far they have been unable to solve the puzzle presented by La Salle.
But Pumaren made it clear that his players are determined to put up a fight in the Final 4 despite their youth and inexperience in the Final 4 stage.
"I talked to the players after the game – are you just satisfied, being in the Final 4? Because if we feel that we're satisfied being in the Final 4, I won't waste my time preparing, I won't waste my time reviewing," he said.
"But everybody answered in an affirmative manner, so we're still gonna continue the journey, and hopefully we can pull some surprises," he added.
Nevertheless, he again stressed that the Falcons have already exceeded the goals that they set at the start of the season. "We don't have to prove anything," Pumaren said emphatically.
"Being here is already a success on my part. I was really looking at 2017, but we're here right now, enjoying the Final 4. We're just going to play," he added.
Pumaren anticipates an exciting game between two teams that both like to implement a full court press, although he himself pointed out that they will have to match La Salle on the boards and limit their turnovers if they hope to keep the game close.
"We'll see. It's gonna be fun," he said. "And anyway, they're supposed to win naman eh. So for us, we have everything to gain, and we have nothing to lose."
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