From a rocky 1-5 start to now holding a 6-7 record, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws have staged an impressive comeback, forcing themselves back into the thick of the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament’s Final Four race.
Head coach Sean Chambers, now in his second year, beams with pride as his young squad proves it can hang with the league’s elite.
For Chambers, FEU’s resurgence isn’t just about climbing the standings in the ultra-competitive eight-team field.
It’s about witnessing a once-inexperienced roster evolve into a tight-knit unit, led by the dynamic trio of Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, and Jorick Bautista — players unafraid to seize the spotlight when it counts.
With one elimination round game remaining, the postseason picture is still wide open. De La Salle University (7-6) and Ateneo de Manila University (6-7) remain in contention, but Chambers feels thrilled to see the Tamaraws shed their underdog label and reclaim the gritty identity of the UAAP’s winningest men’s basketball program.
“We started off the year 2-5, I’m not sure. And we just continued to battle and practice. We kept believing that we had a chance and that we could make things better. I just love this journey, and I’m grateful to God for putting us on it,” Chambers said following FEU’s 84-77 win over the University of the East last Saturday at the SMART Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
“Our progression was coming together at the right time of the year. I’m just so happy with the guys. We’re where we need to be. After today and tomorrow, we’ll pretty much know exactly where we stand. We still need a bit of help, but at least we’ve put ourselves in the conversation.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Chambers had always believed it was never a question of if the Tamaraws would fight their way back into the postseason hunt — only when.
That unwavering confidence guided the rise of Mongcopa, Pasaol, and Bautista, while also spotlighting Gambian center Mo Konateh, returning forward Luke Felipe, and one-and-done guard Neil Owens, all of whom have stepped up at crucial moments.
“Yes, 100-percent,” Chambers said when asked if he expected FEU to be in the Final Four conversation.
“We’re young, but talented. We just need to empower the guys to believe in themselves more. Luke still has so much to contribute, and Janrey and Kirby are tremendous talents who will only keep improving. I felt we had a chance from the start — against La Salle in the first game, against Ateneo where we let one slip, and in that three-point thriller against UP. So yes, I did feel we could pull this off.”
Looking ahead to Wednesday’s showdown with the third-ranked University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers, Chambers promised that FEU would stick to the simple yet effective blueprint that has fueled their late-season revival.
“We used to have very detailed game plans for every match. Since our first game against UE, our approach has been simplified: play for FEU, play for your family, play for your teammates, give 100-percent focus and effort, and most importantly, play for God first,” he expressed.
“That’s been our mindset since the UE game, and it will continue to guide us.”
