Romwel Anzures

Far Eastern University head coach Sean Chambers. Photo from UAAP Media.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758127469619UAAP88 Basketball Presscon - Coach Sean Chambers-09897.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Far Eastern University head coach Sean Chambers. Photo from UAAP Media."/>Far Eastern University head coach Sean Chambers. Photo from UAAP Media.MANILA — Far Eastern University went through an eventual offseason, to say the least, as it prepared for its return to UAAP men’s basketball.</div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2025/9/11/uaap-brighter-lights-bigger-stage-expected-in-season-88-every-team-is-more-competitive-0900">READ: Brighter lights, bigger stage expected in UAAP Season 88</a></div>After a promising showing under Sean Chambers in Season 87, the Tamaraws suddenly saw one of their homegrown stars Veejay Pre depart for University of the Philippines, a move that was a push-and-pull affair between the camp of the young 6-foot-5 star and the Morayta-based institution.However, while his transfer clouded an early part of the preseason preparations of Far Eastern U, what that was actually only a part of a summer that saw them flaunt improved play from the likes of Janrey Pasaol and Jedric Daa, while also sharing moments with an ex-NBA player on their Sacramento Trip.“I&#x27;m excited for the UAAP season, and I&#x27;m excited about our team,” the Gilas Pilipinas deputy coach told ABS-CBN News. “We got a nice core going on and a few other surprises in the mix as well.”The Tamaraws, who won five games in 14 appearances last year — while now without Pre — still have names such as Jorick Bautista, Janrey Pasaol, Jedric Daa, and Mo Konateh, among others for Season 88.And Chambers, who finally had a whole offseason with his squad, is ecstatic about the growth that his stars have shown in comparison to last year.“Jedric continues to improve every day,” he raved. “He&#x27;s starting to step up, getting out of his freshman season. He played much basketball going into his sophomore year, and that also includes Mo.”“Mo continues to get better,” Chambers continued. “I think he&#x27;s possibly the best FSA, foreign student-athlete here in the league. He&#x27;s just continuing to do tremendous work. And then, Jorick Bautista was just Jorick. Jorick was phenomenal. He gets into those modes where he&#x27;s like Steph Curry.”“He can just really hit shots all over the place. And they&#x27;re tough, competitive, challenging shots that a lot of people just can&#x27;t make. Our core is getting better,” he added.Aside from Pre, Cholo Anonuevo, and Royce Alforque are now also gone from FEU.And while the Tams have the aforementioned quartet to lean on for the upcoming season, Chambers remains upbeat as he will have at his disposal another prized product of the Baby Tamaraws: former high school Finals MVP Kirby Mongcopa.“Kirby, who&#x27;s going to be a freshman this year, has impressed a lot,” Chambers said of the 6-foot-4 young ace from Dumaguete, who previously suffered a motorcycle accident that resulted in him missing out on his last years of HS hoops.But even with his break from the sport as he recovered from that setback, Chambers pointed out that Mongcopa has been showing flashes of brilliance so far with the senior Tams.“I’m looking forward to seeing him finally play on the main stage,” he said of Mongcopa.Aside from the 18th FilOil Preseason Cup which they competed in earlier this year, Chambers cited how their US training camp did well for the progress of his team.“The trip was more about team building, relying on each other. You&#x27;re on the road, you only have each other for those two weeks to depend on one another. That creates a great camaraderie amongst the players,” Chambers shared.“But what I think one of the most important pieces that came out of it is that the way we started executing our offense on the road, we started to have full command of the offense in all our different plays and hitters that we run. And the guys were 100% bought into their roles,” he added.In addition to chemistry-building, the former Alaska Milk shared how it also helped them test their capabilities against unfamiliar foes.“The Sacramento trip was amazing, because I feel like here in the Philippines, we play against each other so much already. We see the same guys all the time,” he said.“How many times have they played against the guys from UP, UE, and La Salle since they&#x27;ve been kids, right?. So, it&#x27;s great when you can go see another competition and see how you can expand your game against that competition,” continued the PBA legend.And it was not just any other competition, as Chambers made sure that they were exposed to teams and players who were used to such high-level action.“I really thought it was so impactful for us to go outside of our comfort zone and play basketball,” he said. “There were some NBA GLeague guys our very first game out there, and there was the former Los Angeles Laker and Golden State Warrior Kent Bazemore.”&quot;We had a workout game with him, and the guys loved every moment of it. But you know, first of all, the funny part is, during the game, all the guys were in awe of him. But I&#x27;m telling them: ‘Deny him, pressure him, don&#x27;t let him catch the ball!’ And all the players are like, bro, this is Kent Basemore. Are you kidding me? You know, it was really a great experience,” he said. <div> </div><div>Chambers’ Challenge</div>With the quality of training that the Tamaraws went through, Chambers now poses a challenge for his troops if they want to translate their learnings into wins in the upcoming season.“My expectation is, last year, everything was kind of new to them. Although they were stars at the high school level, once you get to the senior teams, it&#x27;s still a little different,” he said.“But this year, going into year two, we won&#x27;t be surprised by any moment,” he emphasized. “They&#x27;re going to be able to compete and play at a higher level.”And to match up against the league’s powerhouses, this is Chambers’ counter:“Most importantly, we&#x27;re talking so much more about defense, defense, defense. We want to try to hold teams under 60 points a game. That&#x27;s our goal. If we can do that, we feel like we have a chance to win 90% of our games,” he said.Far Eastern U opens its UAAP Season 88 campaign on Saturday, September 20, 2:00 p.m., when it faces Ateneo de Manila University at the University of Santo Tomas Quadricentennial Pavilion in España.<div> </div><div>RELATED VIDEO:</div><script data-wid="auto" type="text/javascript" src="https://content.viralize.tv/display/?zid=AAFz8gWM8iRADsJr&amp;cid=ABhQdnzcyhy15EM1"></script>

#UAAPSeason88 Preview | "There were some NBA GLeague guys, and there was the former Los Angeles Laker and Golden State Warrior Kent Bazemore.”

#UAAPSeason88 Preview | "There were some NBA GLeague guys, and there was the former Los Angeles Laker and Golden State Warrior Kent Bazemore.”

UAAP: Chambers’ Challenge — How Tams went beyond their habitat to prep for Season 88

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UAAP: Chambers’ Challenge — How Tams went beyond their habitat to prep for Season 88

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 19, 2025 01:00 PM PHT

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