Sean Chambers bared the story behind his new task as Far Eastern University Tamaraws' chief tactician in an interview with The Big Story on One News.
Sean Chambers and Johnny Abarrientos have come a long way together.
Suiting up for the Alaska Milkmen, Chambers and Abarrientos won six PBA titles together, including a Grand Slam in 1996.
Decades later, Abarrientos, a Far Eastern University alumnus, would play a key role in tapping his former teammate to take charge of the Tamaraws' men’s basketball program.
Chambers was named new head coach of the FEU Tamaraws, on Monday, March 18.
One of the most decorated PBA imports in history, Chambers, known as “Mr. 100 Percent," now takes over from former chief tactician Denok Miranda with hopes of reclaiming the Morayta-based squad's lost basketball glory.
Chambers, however, shared that his initial duty was to be a player development coach for FEU's juniors and seniors programs.
“The original idea was that I would come in and be kind of like a player development [coach]. I was very intrigued with that opportunity. We just didn't have a real set plan how to make it work, but we originally set and talked about being like a player development [coach], working with the lower level teams, the high school teams and then also the men's team,” Chambers said in an interview on The Big Story aired on One News.
Then, Tamaraws consultant Abarrientos stepped in to ask Chambers to consider taking the head coaching job which got him to ponder deeply.
“We ended up having a meeting before I left back to the States during Thanksgiving break and they brought in the heavy hitter, they brought in no other than Johnny A to come have a conversation with me to try to send the deal. So, Johnny A was in the meeting, and it was like, pretty much, what do you need me to do? I'll make it work,” said Chambers.
Chambers also noted that things will not be possible without Miranda, who now heads the FEU basketball program. Miranda oversees the high school and college teams.
The 1996 PBA Best Import also revealed that he received coaching offers not only from the collegiate ranks but also in the professional scene, noting how Alaska top executive Wilfred Uytengsu gave him advice during that time.
“I did get two offers from PBA teams and I had one other UAAP team that was going after me and really since last May or June. Mr. Uytengsu was pretty important to me... he wanted me to be in a place where there was going to be a good business structure, a solid foundation with the basketball program, and the expectations were legitimate.”
Furthermore, Chambers is keen to instill Alaska’s “We Not Me” mentality to the Tamaraws side that wound up with a 3-11 record last Season 85 and missed out on a Final Four spot for the second year in a row.
"I think, you just start with the basics. Simplicity is the key to success. Then, I think, we also move to our team culture and climate, we have to be a team that's not only playing together but we're playing for each other. Basically, the Alaska Aces model. It was a 'We Not Me' mentality when it came to the Alaska Aces, so that's going to be important to me. And, I just think, making the little things important.”
WATCH THE INTERVIEW HERE: