FRANZ Pumaren is here to stay for Adamson.
The five-time UAAP champion refuted earlier reports of his possible ouster from the Soaring Falcons, saying that he's currently in the process of renewing his contract in San Marcelino.
"In principle, we agreed already (on a contract renewal). There are just minor revisions na lang on our contract," he told Spin.ph through a phone interview on Wednesday.
Fr. Aldrin Suan, CM, director of Adamson's Office for Athletics and Recreation, also supported Pumaren as the two parties eye to extend their partnership.
"We're just discussing the details of his renewal," he said. "As the athletic director of the University, I stand for the renewal of coach Franz."
Suan even went to as far as guaranteeing the contract extension to be done before the year ends or early next year.
"Definitely. Nandoon na yun eh. Details na lang naman ito," he said.
Pumaren's three-year contract expired at the conclusion of the UAAP Season 81, where the second-seeded Soaring Falcons squandered a twice-to-beat advantage and fell to eventual runner-up University of the Philippines in the Final Four.
But for Suan, he highlighted the changes Pumaren brought to the Soaring Falcons program, from player recruitment to three straight Final Four appearances in Seasons 79 to 81, as enough merit for the latter's contract extension.
"In a simple matter of winning basketball, coach Franz brought us in the Final Four for all of his three years here. What will happen to Adamson if we'll not renew coach Franz?," he said
"You try to look at the history of Adamson University. Coach Franz was with us from Seasons 79 to 81 and we're in the Final Four for those past three years. You look at the four years prior to coach Franz' hiring, nasaan kami? We're always at seventh or eighth place. If you're a decision maker, what's your course of direction for the program development, di ba?"
Pumaren amassed a collective record of 27-15 in his three years in Adamson, though he failed to advance past the Final Four, getting the boot from La Salle in Seasons 79 and 80 before UP eliminated it last season.
Suan believes that Pumaren holds the key in the Soaring Falcons' bid for a UAAP title, especially with Jerrick Ahanmisi and Jerom Lastimosa leading the fight in Season 82.
"My stand as an athletic director is for the renewal of coach Franz," he said. "It's illogical for us not to continue with coach Franz."