FOR the longest time, Far Eastern University’s chances of survival in UAAP Season 88 hinged on its youth and whether or not it can grow up in time.
With a roster chock-full of rookies and sophomores, the Tamaraws fell apart time and time again to their own shortcomings in the endgame, leading them to a 4-7 record.
But ahead of their crucial matchup against La Salle on Sunday, big changes were felt at their practice facility in Diliman - and it all started with head coach Sean Chambers.
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Apparently, the PBA legend-turned-collegiate shot-caller was more strict and serious during their Friday practice.
“I came in and practiced and they'll tell you, we didn't touch a basketball for the first maybe 20 minutes. We kind of did a couple running because I'm like, we got to go through this,” Chambers shared.
“That's how you grow. And I told him that after practice, like, I'm going to be tough on you, but I'm going to love on you afterwards.”
Instead of being disoriented, FEU took it as a call to lock in.
“Grabe rin yung [pag]prepara namin,” said Kirby Mongcopa. “Si coach Sean, nakita namin sa practice, sobrang focused niya. Kahit parang nagalit siya sa amin, pinapakita namin na kaya namin.”
As Janrey Pasaol added, “Bago kasi yung La Salle game, sobrang na-frustrate si coach Sean sa akin. Yung past games namin, kinausap niya ulit ako na kailangan ko mag-reset sa mindset ko pagdating sa game na 'to na kailangan ko talaga dumepensa.”
And for the first time since Season 86, FEU escaped La Salle 84-83, with Pasaol dropping 17 points and seven assists, while Mongcopa chipped in a double-double of 10 points and rebounds, including the game-winning basket and win-sealing block.
With the entire starting five dropping double-digits and keeping their Final Four hunt alive, Pasaol relished them coming through at the most crucial time.
“Sobrang saya kasi ilang years kaming hindi nanalo sa La Salle. Sobrang laking boost sa confidence namin 'to pagdating sa last two games namin,” he said, talking to their remaining assignments again University of the East and University of Santo Tomas.
UAAP got an FEU problem
Under Chambers, the Tamaraws have shown plenty of flashes of competitiveness - from when Veejay Pre was still wearing the green-and-gold until now Pasaol and Kirby have taken over in teaming up with Jorick Bautista.
Those never went beyond flashes, though.
Still, Chambers is adamant they will establish themselves sooner rather than later.
“We’re super grateful to just be on this stage and be able to be in this place. We know La Salle’s a championship team. I left the house today [and] I kept saying to myself, ‘We have to beat one of the big teams in this tournament in order for us to finally arrive,'” he said.
And arrive, they did, still alive and kicking in the ultracompetitive playoff race, not that far behind fifth-running Adamson and Ateneo.
Now in the stretch run of the season, the squad from Morayta was in dire need of a toughening up, so Chambers took the risk of tightening his grip. Thankfully for him, his wards tightened their bond as well.
“If I'm soft coaching, I'm creating excuses. And what I love about these guys is that they could have went in practice like, ‘Oh, this coach is mean, you know, ayaw ko na.’ I don't know,” he said.
“They could have been upset, but they took it. They owned it, and this is the result of it”
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