It’s the "Pumaren Cup” on Premier Cup Sunday

It’s the "Pumaren Cup” on Premier Cup Sunday

by rick olivares

When the Adamson Falcons take on the University of the East Red Warriors on Sunday, June 5, in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup, the match will have great bearing in two ways. 

First, both squads have identical 3-3 records and the winner will advance to the quarterfinal round of the summer tournament. The winner will face either Arellano University, National University, or the University of Perpetual Help that are also jockeying for position in the playoffs. 

Second, it will be the first time in close to three decades that Franz Pumaren, the Falcons’ head coach, will match wits against older brother Derrick, the Red Warriors’ head tactician, in a competitive match. Dubbed “the Pumaren Cup,” a take on the inter-barangay tournament that the former put together as Quezon City Councilor, the loser, according to Derrick, spends for the post-match dinner. 

The first time the two brothers matched wits was in the old Philippine Amateur Basketball League in the 1980s when Derrick handled Triple V and Franz masterminded Magnolia’s campaign. The eldest brother took the win.

Incidentally, Derrick also has Dindo, the youngest of the Pumaren male siblings on his team. All three Pumaren brothers played for and coached their alma mater, De La Salle. As coach, Derrick piloted DLSU to the 1989 and 1990 titles while Franz won five, 1998-2011 and 2007.

Franz and Dindo also squared off in the UAAP when the former was head coach of La Salle and while the latter minded UE in 2007. Dindo’s Red Warriors swept the elimination round 14-0 and took two wins against the Green Archers. Franz turned the tables around in the finals when DLSU took down UE in two matches. The following season, the brothers split their elimination round matches.

“More than a brotherly match, it’s a knockout game and I want my team to learn how to play under pressure. We are here playing to get ready for the real battle that is the UAAP and game like this will help us become a better team.”

The Adamson-UE match is at 3:15pm at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan.