The FEU Tamaraws joining offseason tournaments are by design and serve a higher purpose. That’s according to coach Sean Chambers after his team lost to the La Salle Green Archers in quarterfinals action in Asiabasket NSAC 2026. That purpose, says the legendary PBA import-turned-coach, is to prepare FEU for UAAP action.
“This tournament is just to get better,” Chambers told Rebanse in an exclusive interview. “Win or lose, you can’t put much into it because last year, we beat UST [Growling Tigers] both times we played them, and then when we met them in the [UAAP] season, they killed us.”
Trying to Get Better
The Tamaraws’ Asiabasket run, which got off to a rousing 4-0 start, ended on Saturday with a tight loss to a UAAP rival, which all but proves Chambers’s initial point. The third-year head coach for the Tamaraws then made it clear that the entire team is trying to improve this offseason.
“You just try to get better at this time of the year and work some of your stuff and not try to show too much of your hands. You want to compete, and you also want to work on good habits,” said the six-time PBA champion.
In the quarterfinals against La Salle, the Tamaraws were only down by one in the dying seconds when they gave the ball to Jedrick Daa in the last nine seconds of regulation. Daa missed the potential game-winning shot. Chambers didn’t care about the miss that much. However, he rued his team’s inability to box out consistently, which he said prevented the Tamaraws from extending their lead.
“The only thing I’m a little disappointed in is that we still need to continue boxing out—we could’ve separated the lead there,” the former Alaska Milkman pointed out.
Impressed with FEU’s Prized Rookies
Despite getting eliminated in the quarterfinals, Chambers is still liking what he’s seeing with his Tamaraws. He is particularly impresse by his rookies.
“Phenomenal,” Chambers said of his prized recruits, notably Cabs Cabonilas, Marc Burgos, and Sam Hall. “This is only their second gameplay with the older guys, so it’s really raw for them, it’s still new, so I was really proud of their effort.”
Both Cabonilas and Burgos made their tournament debut in the quarterfinals. Cabonilas tallied 6 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal, while Burgos had 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist. Hall played 8 minutes and put up 6 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal
“We can tell they are all going to be assets for us. Cabs is Cabs—once he gets comfortable, he’s going to be a star. Marc was tremendous, and really Sam [Hall] came in and filled in because Luke Felipe is sick,” said Chambers. “So I’m like, okay, Sam, we’re gonna throw you in the mix now, and he performed well.”
Overall, Chambers is still satisfied with his team’s effort so far this preseason, even with the abbreviated run in Asiabasket that ended against an UAAP rival. Now, Chambers and FEU will be turning their focus on the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup as they look to get ready fo UAAP Season 89, which will unfurl on September 12.
