A transferee out of Enderun, AJ Fransman gets going with head coach Nash Racela’s system as Adamson makes a last push for the UAAP Final Four.
AJ Fransman has slowly but surely figured out his place with the Adamson Soaring Falcons as he plays his first year with the San Marcelino-based squad after transferring from Enderun College.
Among the new faces for head coach Nash Racela in UAAP Season 87, Fransman has emerged among Adamson’s most reliable players. Going up against the NU Bulldogs on Sunday, he proved once again why he found his way to the UAAP.
In a crucial matchup for their Final Four chances, Fransman showed up with a career-high 18 points to finish with a double-double along with 11 boards. Taking advantage of a lengthy break, Fransman said that he simply adhered to his coach’s instructions.
[RELATED: Adamson eliminates NU to keep pace in tight UAAP Final Four race]
“Yun nga laging nilalagay ko sa isip ko yung mga sinasabi ng coaches and ni coach Nash na we just have to do our part talaga. Yun talaga yung parang, sinabi ko na, yung games lang talaga namin ang kaya namin kontrolin,” said Fransman.
“Ayun nga, sa part na parang sa ginagawa yung sa side namin, nag-stick lang ako sa system. Ginagawa ko lang yung mga gustong ipagawa ng mga coaches. I think I'm slowly understanding yung gusto ng mga coaches,” he added.
Against NU, he was the only Adamson player in double digit scoring, and with their season on the line, Fransman stepped up to the challenge.
Though believing in Fransman’s skills heading into his first year in the UAAP, even Racela said that he didn’t really expect his new recruit to impact their game as much as he has.
But taking it as a welcome development, Racela is happy at how Fransman is progressing.
“Well when we recruited AJ naman, we had really good plans for him but we knew that it will take time for him to adjust, to absorb, to be able to execute. And yung struggles is really expected,” said Racela.
“But slowly, sabi nga niya, slowly understanding. So that really helps. Actually, ang expectation ko sa kanya is next year pa. Kumbaga, ngayon kapa-kapa lang this year,” he added.
As for Fransman, he’s zeroed in on being able to help the Soaring Falcons keep themselves afloat as long as he can. With two more games remaining in eliminations — and a shot for the Final Four — Fransman isn’t about to give his season up so easily.
“Di namin iniisip [yun]… Parang, may chance pa talaga habang may games pa kami, opportunity yun para samin,” he said.
Fransman and the Soaring Falcons plunge back into action on Saturday, November 16, when they face the UST Growling Tigers at the FilOil EcoOil Centre in San Juan.