Bleachers' Brew #119 The Flight of the Falcons

The Flight of the Falcons
words by rick olivares
pictures by martin romero
ken bono pix by people's tonight

Their only championship of 1978 under Hector Calma was so long ago for many it might as well be non-existent. Some may remember those steady shooting says of Louie Alas and when Joey Valdez was their top flight center. Some may recall those slam dunking and high-flying years of Kenneth Duremdes, Marlou Aquino, and EJ Fiehl. Yes, Adamson alumni remember that for they’d rather forget those years of utter mortification when they went winless for a hundred years. Well, it was actually two straight years but if you ask the players on those squads, it could have very well been a hundred years. “Ramdam na ramdam ng school yung mga pagkatalo at pagiging second class team sa UAAP,” recounted Athletic Director Roel De La Rosa. “Masakit para sa lahat.”

Until 2006, when Leo Austria strode into San Marcelino Street and picked up a disillusioned and fractured Falcons squad. Austria’s pro squad, the Shell Turbochargers had just disbanded and he was waiting for Welcoat to move up to the PBA so he could take over. With the PBL team unable to move up right away, the former PBA Rookie of the Year found himself with some free time. An in-law of his who is an official with Adamson sought his help in conducting a search for a new basketball coach. But the search had turned up empty and in a moment that changed the fortunes of the school and its basketball program, they asked Austria if he would like the job himself. The coach mulled it over with one of the key stipulations to keep the core of its dysfunctional team intact.

The team’s center, Ken Bono was largely inconsistent. Large is a double-edged term for even had he not resembled the Pillsbury Doughboy, he was cannon-fodder for the college game’s big men. Bono was mostly benched under Luigi Trillo, a good-intentioned coach who was ill-equipped for the college game and Mel Alas his replacement in 2005. Bono, battling weight problems, was told to keep his heft to a certain minimum. If he was unable to do so, the team was to have two practices in one day. It all coalesced in one moment when the team’s star forward Mark Abadia, long having kept his temper in check, took a swing at the center. The team was somewhat peaceful after that incident but the embers of discontent remained. And after the UAAP’s Season 68, the Adamson center was left to ponder his future. It was either play another year or move to the United States. But he was not alone. Quite a few others had enough of the losing and the fractious atmosphere of the team.

The latter of which was largely unknown to the general public.

The Falcons were decaying with four different factions within the team. They were divided by region, their order of recruitment, and perceived status within the pecking order. The ironic thing was some walked like kings when they only had a losing record to show.

It was more evident on the floor when they refused to pass the ball to one another. Off the court, they communicated with their fists and with whatever weapons they could get their hands on. It was gang warfare in a small locality and their proximity created sparks. And the losing didn’t help as they fought during practice and in the school’s hallways that tested the school’s patience.

Like another former Rookie of the Year in the Boston Celtics’ Larry Joe Bird, people were surprised that Austria had the chops to coach. In fact, it calls to mind a similar incident thousands of miles away when Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger, after a Premiership title and an FA Cup win for the Gunners, was in Amsterdam to watch the Champions League Finals between Juventus and Real Madrid. At the hotel while checking in, the Frenchman was filling up a form when he listed under “occupation,” the words “miracle worker.” And he was for he broke Manchester United’s stranglehold on the Premiership and won a whole lot more for the London club for considerably less money.

When Adamson students talk about their hardcourt heroes today, they’ll mention Bono, Abadia, Hugnatan, and Patrick Cabahug among others but it is their coach who brought them back to respectability. “He is like a savior to us,” described Athletic Director Roel De La Rosa who took over the position two years ago. “He has brought back pride to Adamson.”

Coaching collegiate basketball is altogether a different animal from the pros. The coach has to put on several hats – basketball instructor, teacher, guidance counselor, and father. Many aren’t ready for that because most coaches only know one thing – basketball.

Austria’s doesn’t claim to be an expert in all areas but he does know his stuff and his pedigree created instant respect among the players. “Excited at inspired kami maglaro noon,” recalled Leo Canuday who is recuperating from an injury that has kept him out of the line-up. “Hindi naman sa hindi marunong yung mga dating coaches pero iba rin yun meron experience.”

Having prevented an exodus of the team’s core, Austria subjected them to a series of tests regarding attitude and their fighting heart one of which was jogging as a team initially from the campus along San Marcelino to Roxas Boulevard then later to Mall of Asia and eventually Coastal Road. Even during such simple endurance tests the players would tease one another mercilessly especially those who would lag behind and a fight would ensue. “At one point during the season, I wanted to quit,” confessed Austria. “Iniisip mo, worth it ba ‘ito? Are you reaching yung mga bata? But you have to understand that basketball is a means to move up para sa mga bata na ‘to. So agawan minsan yan sa bola. You have to teach them the true meaning of team and team play.”

If one were to look at the team at how they ran, the space between one another provided a chilling glimpse into their continental divide. During one tense practice, Austria raised his voice at Hugnatan who was picking a fight with one player. The coach is a soft spoken man but when he raises his voice the effect is like thunder and it gets everyone’s attention. After awhile, the fighting stopped and they ran together like a pack or more appropriately, like a flock of Falcons. A strong pre-season raised everyone’s spirits considerably but Austria preached prudence and caution. The UAAP tourney was the litmus test of their journey as a team.

“Ang team lalaban pero sa huli itaas ang banderang kapos,” explained the coach. The staff made it clear that there would be no change overnight as everyone had to do their part. They had to learn how to handle losses that should be charged to experience. And when they began to win, the coach had to explain to them how they were doing it and how they should not only keep it up but handle it magnanimously.

“Dati mahirap kumuha ng panalo so pag nandyan i-treasure mo,” said Hugnatan last season. “Gusto magtrabaho lalo para tuloy tuloy yung panalo.”

The Soaring Falcons won its first ever final four berth with a 6-6 slate as Bono led the league in scoring with a 21.6 average en route to being named league MVP. Attendance by the students soared. They no longer had to be bussed or required to go to the games. They began to purchase tickets on their own. In school, they wear “Adamson” t-shirts and cheer lustily for their team with its new stars like Jan Colina, Michael Galinato, Paul Gonzalgo, Marc Agustin, and Jerick Cañada. The alumni, previously disenfranchised, have come back in droves to watch the games. They talk of the team’s potential and when they battled Ateneo De Manila in three classic games that were decided by one-point and with the final shot.

“We may have lost those games and got knocked out of the Final Four,” said Austria. “But we won back our pride and self-respect and that is more important than any trophy.”

Post script:
In Austria’s absence in Season 70, Adamson, suffered from the loss of its stars and floundered. Their two wins in 14 games were against an even more hapless UP squad. With Austria’s return for the new campaign and the long haul, there is renewed hope. And when foes take to the court to battle them, there is now respect.

Thanks to Coach Leo, Mr. de la Rosa, Leo Canuday, Patrick Cabahug, and Roel Hugnatan for the war stories. This appears in my column in today's edition -- August 11, 2008 -- of the Business Mirror.
http://businessmirror.com.ph/08112008/sports08.html