UAAP: Sean Chambers’ 'tough love' on FEU bears fruit in impressive win against La Salle

“Who else is on that stage?”

This is what Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach Sean Chamber’s cousin preached to him just before their bout against De La Salle University on Sunday.

With not much expectation from the public to vie for a Final Four plum this season, especially with the key departure of UAAP Season 87 Rookie of the Year Veejay Pre, the Tamaraws continue to prove everyone wrong.

The Morayta-based squad continues their steadfast growth by committee.

In FEU’s first win against contenders La Salle in three years, 84-83, all five of their starters notched double digits. Specifically, Baby Tamaraws turned integral men in Chamber’s system, Janrey Pasaol, Kirby Mongcopa, and Jedric Daa combined for 37 points to help FEU improve to a 5-7 win-loss record.

Adding center sophomore and Season 87 mythical five member Mo Konateh into that Tamaraw triad, the roadmap back to the UAAP summit looks clearer for FEU.

Focusing on the here and now, however, Chambers shared the internal grind that his boys have been putting in to pull out good results like the one against DLSU.

“I’m like, we [have] got to grind through this…I told them after practice, I’m going to be tough on you, but I’m going to love on you afterwards…I told them as well, if I’m soft coaching, I’m creating excuses,” the FEU tactician acclaimed.

“That’s what I love about these guys. They could have went into practice like, ‘coach is [being] mean.’ They could have been upset–but they took it, owned it, and this is the result of it,” Chambers added.

Standout guard Pasaol echoed his mentor’s sentiments, stating that Chamber’s “tough love” is what makes him and his fellow peers want to do better.

“Bago kasi yung La Salle game, sobrang na-frustrate si coach Sean sa akin…Nag-respond naman ako. Lagi namang ganyan si coach Sean sa akin. Pag bad game ako, lagi niya akong ginagabayan, lagi na ‘kailangan natin ganito, kailangan mo pa mag-improve ng ganito,’” the sophomore shared.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News