UAAP Preview: New-look Adamson Falcons face tough flight ahead
Then a promising cager from Adamson University, Kenneth Duremdes had the luxury of playing alongside a pair of imposing centers in the mold of Marlou Aquino and EJ Feihl, helping him to lead the Falcons to back-to-back bridesmaid finishes in the UAAP men's basketball tourney from 1992 to 1993.
But now as the team's head coach in lieu of Leo Austria who stepped down after a disappointing campaign last year, Duremdes, 40, readily admitted they are facing a daunting task in the league's 77th season that unfolds on July 12 at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Foremost on the looming challenge is how to deal with their lack of ceiling.
"Maliliit talaga 'yung mga players ko ngayon," he shared to Yahoo! Philippines Friday afternoon, moments after conducting the team's practice at the school's basketball facility in San Marcelino, Manila. "Aside from that, most of them don't have the needed experience yet."
The stunning decision of ace wingman Jericho Cruz to skip his final year and join the pro league's rookie draft in August, plus the exit of hulking African import Ingrid Sewa, forwards Rodney Brondial, Roider Cabrera, Harry Petilos and five other cagers certainly left a big hole to fill for the Falcons in what Duremdes described as "the start of the team's rebuilding process."
"We just have to go through it. We have to make the most of what we have right now and hope for better results," he added.
The Falcons are bringing in a roster filled up most by rookies, led by Matthew Aquino, the 17-year-old son of Marlou, who will serve as one of Duremdes' assistant coaches along with Vince Hizon and Michael Fermin.
At 6-foot-7, Matthew Aquino is the tallest among the current Falcons and offers the team bright hopes for future, but Duremdes is not eager to put too much load on the shoulders of the Lourdes School of Mandaluyong product.
"We can't give him too much responsibility. He's not yet there. Hindi pa siya ganu'n kalakas at ka-polished as far as his skills are concerned. Kailangan pa talagang maturuan at palakasin," he shared.
Other new faces in the youthful Adamson squad include Letran's Ivan Villanueva, La Salle-Greenhills’ Alex Barrera, Chiang Kai Shek's Kevin Baytan, Hope Christian High School's Jessiery Pedrosa, San Beda's Ryan Gumtang and ex-Baby Falcon William Polican.
Although he's expecting a tougher grind in his first collegiate coaching stint with the Falcons, Duremdes is willing to take the learning curve along with his players.
"Ang maganda lang sa team ko, panay bata nga pero gustong matuto. I'm hoping them to grow and improve as a team. Kailangan lang pabilisin 'yung learning process," he shared, adding veterans Ryan Monteclaro, Jansen Rios, Don Trollano and Dawn Ochea will have to take their game to another level in boosting the Falcons' drive.
