When life hits an athlete with heartbreak and adversity, the only way to go is up.
For the second straight game, Far Eastern University’s quest for its first win in the Sean Chambers era ended in heartbreak.
With the Tamaraws down 62-60 against the National University Bulldogs on Saturday, Janrey Pasaol missed not just one, not two, but three crucial free throws against National University with just 1.1 seconds left on the clock.
The Tamaraws had led for most of the contest, and the final chance to secure a victory fell to the 21-year-old guard from Davao City after he was fouled by PJ Palacielo.
Unfortunately, Pasaol’s attempts from the free-throw line failed to find the basket.
While this missed opportunity is painful for Pasaol, it is poised to be a crucial stepping stone in his development as a collegiate basketball player.
(C) UAAP Season 87 Media Team
Reflecting on the moment, JR, the younger brother of University of the East great Alvin, shared, “Yung una talaga pumasok sa isip ko yung sinabi ni Coach Johnny [Abarientos] ‘Eh, you make it or break it.'”
He went on, “‘Yun yung PBA legend na naranasan na niya, pero wala ‘eh. Kailangan ko lang talaga mag=practice, punta sa court, tapos i-work hard pa yung free throws ko.
“Sa season naman, mahaba pa ‘eh. Hindi naman matatapos yung UAAP sa dalawang laro ‘eh, so babawi kami.”
Despite the sting of this setback, Pasaol’s emotions were tempered by encouragement from Chambers.
Chambers reassured Pasaol that this heartbreak is a part of his growth and learning process.
“I told him like this is the bump in the road that everybody that has ever played the game of basketball goes through, and these are the things that are gonna help you gonna be a great player later in life,” said the Alaska Ace legend.
“I believe there’s gonna be a moment in time – maybe this season – where he’s going to be put in the same position and make those free throws.”
Chambers, despite the tough start to the season, is optimistic about his squad, which is one of the youngest in the league. He emphasized that these challenging moments are crucial for their development.
“Right now, we’re putting a lot of pressure on these guys, which will ultimately pay off for them in the long run, but right now, they gotta go through their bumps and bruises right now to be successful in the UAAP,” he said.
FEU, with one of the deepest rookie classes in the UAAP, including the Baby Tamaraws trio of Pasaol, Veejay Pre, and Jedric Daa, along with 19-year-old Nigerian import Mo Konateh, will continue its search for its first win.
The Tamaraws will face the University of the East on Wednesday at 4:30 PM.
