SEAN Chambers isn't ready to say that Far Eastern University has the University of the Philippines' number.
Not after two wins. Not even after the Tamaraws became the first team in the last two seasons - other than La Salle - to beat the Fighting Maroons twice in the UAAP elimination round.
For Chambers, there is a simpler explanation for FEU's rare elims sweep of UP this season: they found a way to win two games that could have gone either way.
"I don't think we have their number because the first two years, we never beat them. This is the first year we've ever beat them," he told SPIN.ph after the Tams' 71-68 win in the second round.
READ: FEU repeats over UP to rise to solo third in tight playoff race
State U, Chambers noted, is also navigating a different reality after losing five key players from last season's team. Its wins this year have hardly come without a fight, with close calls against the likes of UST, Ateneo, and Adamson serving as reminders of how thin the margins can be in this league.
“That happens to everybody in this league. These games can go either way," he said.
Pre-ssure on Veejay
And in those two triumphs, there was one familiar subplot.
Veejay Pre, Chambers' former player and someone the green-and-gold coach still holds dear, has found the Tamaraws to be a particularly difficult matchup this season.
Pre finished with 16 points on 7-of-14 shooting and five rebounds in FEU's 90-79 first-round win. But in the rematch, he was held to nine points on a 3-of-17 clip, although he added six rebounds and three assists.
"It's definitely hard because Veejay is so talented. He's such an amazing player, and I love him like my own son, still. That doesn't change," Chambers said.
"I want the best for Veejay. I just want to make sure FEU wins."
And the Tams' have done exactly that, twice, accomplishing something few squads have managed against one of the league's perennial powers.
Their first victory vs. UP earlier this season ended an eight-year drought. To do it again in the same campaign was another step forward for a program that Chambers believes is still writing its own story.
"Nobody saw it coming. But we believe in ourselves," he said.
"Just believe, just believe, just believe. Anything is possible."
Still, the bigger stage and brighter lights beckon.
"We understand if we want to be in the Final Four, we have to compete against the big teams," he said. "We got to compete against NU, we got to compete against La Salle. Bottom line."
For now, though, the Tamaraws have already proven they can stand their ground against one of them. Twice.
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