Sean Chambers has seen this happen before.
His Far Eastern University squad would fight its way to the end, and the Tamaraws would eventually wind up with close defeats. In the UAAP Season 88 men’s basketball tournament, it’s happening again.
‘I say this humbly and respectfully. We felt we let one get away against Ateneo. We felt we had a moment against [National U] and for sure, we had our moments against La Salle,’ the FEU coach said That was the Tamaraws’ first win this season and Chambers is definitely pleased.
‘[When] you finally get over [the hump], you guys know how it is, you’ll feel so much better about yourselves,’ the legendary PBA import said.
But he can’t be blamed for counting how differently his team’s record should be, not with how two of FEU’s three losses could have easily been overturned by a field goal or two.
Before FEU’s first win of the season at the expense of the Soaring Falcons, the Tamaraws lost a squeaker at the hands of La Salle, 74-72. In their season-opener against Ateneo, the Tamaraws lost by just three points, 86-83, in a game where the team held a six-point lead entering the final two minutes.
Only National U dealt FEU an 84-68 beatdown from NU seemed definitive.
Chambers and company, though, made sure they wouldn’t say ‘if only’ this time around.
Janrey Pasaol headlined FEU’s first win of the season with 13 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals.
‘I only got this kind of confidence from him (Chambers) with my whole career,’ Pasaol said, crediting Chambers for another one of his all-around performances.
‘I already repaid his trust in practice, so it’s good that I got to do it in the game this time,’ he added.
Mo Konateh dominated in the paint for FEU with a monster double-double of 18 points and 21 rebounds.