Happy Birthday, Francis “Kiko” Adriano ( Sept 24 )

Happy Birthday, Francis “Kiko” Adriano

2001 PBA Rookie Draft 6th overall pick
2x PBA champion
1997 UAAP champion
FEU Tamaraws guard
7-season PBA veteran

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

FRANCIS Adriano, the former FEU Tamaraw who made waves at the UAAP a couple of years back, and is now doing wonders for the Pasig Pirates at the Metropolitan Basketball Association was not looking for a basketball career in his young life. But by twist of luck, this lanky native of Pasig found himself taking the big leap from college ball to the big time world of professional basketball. And this is his story. As a kid, Francis, just like any other boy from Pasig, dreamed of making it big in baseball. A former struggling municipality located just south of Metro Manila, Pasig was a haven for baseball enthusiasts especially during the time of Mayor Mario Raymundo, who was an avid advocate of America's favorite past time. It was during the early 80s, when Adriano as a young lad honed his skills at the bat, hoping to find himself one day wearing the national colors. ko nang "Bata pa ako pangarap maglaro ng baseball, kasi iyon talaga ang paboritong laro sa lugar namin. Noong panahon ni Mayor Raymundo talagang halos lahat ng kabataan ay nawiwili sa baseball, at isa ako sa mga nagsisikap na maging mahusay sa laro kasi dito ko nakitang may potential tayong mga Pilipino." But Adriano's dream took a drastic change when he went to college. In 1995, he studied at the PSBA and was subsequently taken in the basketball varsity team as he showed a lot of promise. He stayed there for two years under the watchful eyes of coach Tony Guinto, and a year later, he was recruited by the Tamaraws to fill in a spot vacated by some graduating players. "Noong hinugot ako ng FEU, kinausap din ako ni Coach Guinto na sumama sa kaniya sa Adamson, pero may mga kaibigan kasi akong Tamaraws kaya nagpasiya akong sa FEU na lang maglaro. Dito na ako nag-isip na pagbubutihin ko lang ang pag-lalaro ng basketball kasi sabi ng iba may future daw ako dito," recalls Adriano. As a Tamaraw, Francis showed the mettle that catapulted him to the top of the UAAP ranking. He showed versatility and extreme athlecticism, that before he knew it he was already receiving offers from several leagues. "Maraming offers sa akin na dumating pero medyo alanganin akong tanggapin kasi nga gusto kong matapos ang pag-aaral ko, hanggang kausapin nga ng Pasig ang agent ko at nagpasiya akong maglaro sa MBA." What seemed at the beginning as a hastily hatched decision to turn pro proved to be a wellcalculated risk as he got the proper exposure and the confidence of his coach, Joel Banal, who gave him the green light to do what he does best. "Malaking bagay ang binigay ni coach Joel na tiwala sa akin, kaya kahit papaano ay nagkaroon ako ng kumpiyansa at nailabas ko ang laro ko," he said. The Pirates wound up at the top of the standings last year although they failed to bag the National Championship which eventually went to Pampanga Dragons. But Adriano made a lot of people notice his basketball skills and great fighting heart.