Adamson recently named coach Leo Austria as coach of its senior basketball team in the coming UAAP season with the former PBA mentor vowing to steer the Falcons to another Final Four appearance.
“Leo Austria is now our college basketball coach this UAAP season,” league board member Fr. Max Rendon, CM, of Adamson told The STAR yesterday.
It will be Austria’s second coaching stint with the Falcons, who he led to a first-ever Final Four appearance since the format was introduced a decade ago before losing to the Ateneo Eagles in 2006.
With Austria at the helm, the Falcons turned from one of the league’s whipping teams into a formidable squad although it fell short of its bid to end a long title drought that dates back to 1977 when the San Marcelino-based squad won its first and only UAAP cage crown.
Austria, who last coached the Welcoat Dragons in the PBA, is taking over from interim coach Jing Ruiz, who will remain as an assistant and coach of the Baby Falcons.
Former PBA MVP William “Bogs” Adornado took over from Austria last year but could only manage two wins in 14 games as the Falcons struggled with a depleted line-up compounded by Ken Bono’s decision to skip his last playing year to join the PBA. – Joey Villar
