PBA legend Sean Chambers brings a lot to the table for FEU in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
While there are a bevy of new faces for FEU, there is no question of who is the most prominent. That face belongs to the person who will call the shots for the Tamaraws in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.
Yes, we’re referring to new head coach Sean Chambers.
The PBA legend returned to the Philippines to take the reins from Denok Miranda, in hopes of rejuvenating the program that has the most UAAP titles with 20 but has not found any success in recent years.
Chambers first endeared himself to Filipino fans in the 1990s, after leading then Alaska Milkmen to a rare Grand Slam in the PBA as resident import.
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Until Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s beloved reinforcement and naturalized Filipino Justin Brownlee came into the picture, the 59-year-old Chambers was widely regarded as GOAT import.
That was why Chambers coming back to guide FEU got people excited, and at the same time, intrigued. How will Chambers’ PBA success translate to coaching the Tamaraws?
Count former FEU star and now Barangay Ginebra San Miguel rookie RJ Abarrientos among those people.
“Siguro 'yung advantage ni coach Sean sa FEU is galing sya sa ibang bansa. So syempre iba 'yung turo na dadalhin niya sa Pilipinas,” he told One Sports.
“Of course, he played for coach Tim (Cone) way back so siguradong maraming baon. Maraming gun na dala si coach Sean para sa FEU. Kaya sobrang exciting nitong team na 'to.”
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A tall task awaits the well-loved Chambers, though.
The Tamaraws are coming off a seventh place finish in Season 86 where they managed to pick up only three victories.
After the departure of spitfire guard LJay Gonzales, Xyrus Torres, Patric Sleat, and Mo Faty, FEU will now look to co-captains Royce Alforque, Cholo Anonuevo, and Jorick Bautista to lead the team that missed the Final Four the past two seasons.
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Abarrientos is confident the Tamaraws — who also added Janrey Pasaol, Veejay Pre, Jerick Daa, to name a few — will turn heads this season.
“I think they’re very prepared this season kasi nakakasama ko pa naman yung mga ibang teammates ko before like Cholo, Royce, and Jorick,” said Abarrientos.
“Sa tingin ko mas solid sila ngayon. Pinaghandaan nila. Kaya nae-excite din ako na mapanood sila sa first game nila versus Adamson.”
[NEXT: Legends Start Here: Previews, schedules and all you need to know about UAAP Season 87 basketball]