From PBA champion to first time coach, FEU Tamaraws coach Sean Chambers has once again become a student of the game in the UAAP.
When you’re as accomplished as Sean Chambers is in the game of basketball, it’s hard to humble yourself to gain new knowledge.
But as he steps into the role of head coach with the FEU Tamaraws, he’s turned himself into a sponge.
Going into the job without much experience with the clipboard, Chambers was arguably caught off guard by the level of skill it takes to lead his team to wins in the highly competitive collegiate league.
But as FEU finally got themselves on the board with a victory against Ateneo last weekend, Chambers said that he is in the middle of taking in all that he can to make sure he is the best coach for his players.
[READ: Patience pays off as Sean Chambers, FEU take first win in UAAP Season 87]
“I've learned so much already from all the coaches in this league and what they're teaching their kids and as well of course, you know, everybody that's in the PBA. Like basketball is a life here and you're never going to out-coach a coach here.” Chambers said.
“What you're going to do is try to get your kids most prepared to play in those games. But all the coaches here are… I'm like really I'm completely blown away by the execution of UP. I'm blown away by the way that Adamson plays and I'm impressed with NU, how they're continuing to battle without an import. So, and all the way down the line… Everybody is really, really good at what they do here.”
Though a veteran of the game, Chambers does understand that he is a rookie when it comes to drawing up plays and helping his team win.
But as he and his players get tested game in and game out in UAAP Season 87, he believes that his team will slowly but surely become a pest in the league. After the first half of the season, there’s already going to be a lot of experience to go around for him and his players.
“Moving forward, after that game against LaSalle, we are going to be a [problem] for the rest of the teams in this league. We're gonna continue to grow because now, after the second half of the season, they're [no] longer rookies.” said Chambers.
[RELATED: Coach Sean Chambers takes up the cudgels for FEU's progress after first win | OS On The Spot]
“Now this is our fifth game here. It's like, we've been here and done it now. So we're going to get that comfort zone and it's going to be a problem. We're really going to continue to get better.” he added.
Chambers also gets to see a familiar face when FEU closes out their first round against the UST Growling Tigers on the weekend.
The former Alaska import gets to face off with former rival Pido Jarencio – this time as head coach. Still eager to get back at Jarencio for their former rivalry games, Chambers is more than motivated to end the first round strong with his Tamaraws.
“If Pido can put on a UST jersey and I can wear [an] FEU jersey, I will foul him hard for the times that he fouled me back in the 90s. I owe him most definitely.” quipped Chambers with a smile.
“So maybe we'll have a coaches league one day. But I'm still mad at Pido. Yes. He knows it, too.”
FEU and UST are the curtain raisers for weekend action in the UAAP as they face off on Saturday, October 5, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.