In just his sophomore year, Janrey Pasaol has emerged as one of Far Eastern University’s cornerstones in the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
His impact was evident in his first-round numbers, averaging a team-best 18.29 points and 6.57 assists, along with 4.0 rebounds and 2.14 steals per game.
Those stats have Pasaol sitting second in the Most Valuable Player race with 80.429 statistical points, just four points behind leader Mike Phillips.
Collins Akowe amassed 84.286 SP, and should he finish the elimination round on top, he would be named Best Foreign Student-Athlete.
FEU head coach Sean Chambers was not surprised by Pasaol’s breakout season.
“Honestly, Janrey is such an incredible player, he really is, and I’m so lucky to have him,” Chambers said on Wednesday after FEU’s 75-68 win over Ateneo de Manila University.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Chambers shared that about two weeks ago, when the Tamaraws were still struggling to find their rhythm, former NBA player Kent Bazemore reached out to ask about Pasaol.
FEU and Bazemore first connected during the team’s summer training camp in Sacramento, where the Tamaraws faced the Kings, G-League players, and other competition.
“I got a text from Kent Bazemore two weeks ago when we were kinda struggling. He was like, ‘How’s Janrey doing?’” Chambers recalled.
“They remember Janrey in Sacramento, how well he played against the Sacramento King guys when we were there. And he went, ‘Don’t worry about him, that kid’s tough, he’s gonna bounce back.’”
Pasaol once again proved vital in the Tamaraws’ second straight win, helping FEU improve to 3-5 with his second consecutive double-double: 15 points, 13 assists, five rebounds, and two steals.
For the 22-year-old combo guard, his personal growth is a source of pride after a challenging rookie year.
“Siyempre masaya kasi alam naman natin sobrang pangit ng ipinakita ko last season. Nung second round na ako nakabawi, naka-feel ng college basketball talaga,” Pasaol said.
“So inisip ko talaga nung first round pa lang na alam ko na ‘yung feeling dati, so ‘yung mga pagkakamali ko dati na-aavoid ko na ngayon. Doon lang naman ako nag-adjust talaga.”
