LOOKS like FEU’s reload after the loss of the most recent Rookie of the Year didn’t take as long as anticipated.
With Zain Mahmood’s arrival in Morayta, the former Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout is set to be Sean Chambers’ new stalwart at the forward spot.
While Mahmood was used sparingly in his lone season in University of Santo Tomas, Chambers revealed that the 6-foot-6 big had long been on his radar.
“Zain is a good talent. We thought we had him early. We were recruiting him [heavily], but then he chose UST. But hey, we'll take him on the rebound,” he told SPIN.ph.
After Mahmood's first two practices with the Tamaraws, Chambers predicted a short adjustment period, saying, “I think it just takes the (Fil-for) kids about a year to get adjusted here. And I think after another year, he'll be very impactful.”
Lineup-wise, it’s no secret that FEU’s frontcourt could do with reinforcement for Mythical Five member Mo Konateh.
Add to that the fact that Miguel Ona and Aeron Bagunu are graduating, and it becomes a more glaring fact that the forward spot is lacking amid their sprawling list of guards.
But with Mahmood, Chambers sees a seamless fit - just like Pre once was.
“We're hoping there's gonna be a natural fit for us because... Ona and Aaron, our seniors, they'll be graduating,” he said, while also adding that their prized transferee's potential belies his averages of 0.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 3.5 minutes last season.
"So with him coming in after they graduate, it should be a natural fit for us. We've been trying to find a nice flow between in forward position since the departure of Veejay.”
Go in, Zain!
And in terms of attitude, the Fil-Canadian big has wasted no time jelling with FEU. Friendship with fellow Gilas Youth member Jayden Jones aside, Chambers has liked Mahmood’s drive.
“He's been great, super high IQ, really good kid, really good personality, and that's what I want. I want people with good integrity and good kids that are gonna be great program people,” he said.
Though the green-and-gold faithful still have a year to wait before Mahmood dons their jersey in the UAAP, positive reports from the Tamaraws' tactician this early are nothing but good signs.
Expectations may have dipped for this year, but he may very well be a game-changer come Season 89 - which FEU is, coincidentally, hosting.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
