Chambers credits Perasol for FEU’s red-hot streak

Far Eastern University (FEU) head coach Sean Chambers found motivation from an unlikely source back when he was still struggling to get his system to work in his first year as Tamaraws mentor.

Those kind words inspired the American mentor to be patient and work harder to turn FEU into a serious contender.

Three years into his watch, the Tamaraws are now charging ahead of the pack early in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 89 men’s basketball tournament.

Ironically, Chambers and FEU took their third straight win against the team of the man who kept the fire burning for the Tamaraws coach during his lowest moment.

FEU turned back last year’s runner-up University of the Philippines (UP), 90-79, on Sunday at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City for a 3-1 win-loss record and a share of the top spot with Ateneo de Manila University.

It was the Tamaraws’ first win over the Fighting Maroons since 2019, ending an 11-game head-to-head losing skid.

Chambers credited UP Office of Athletics and Sports Development director Bo Perasol for fueling his drive to turn FEU into a team ready to compete against bigger programs such as the powerhouse Fighting Maroons.

“I want to bring this up, like, so my first year when we lost our first five games, and so I'm going to give a lot of respect to UP,” Chambers shared.

“I received a text message from Coach Bo and he was telling me to keep my head up and keep believing in what you're doing. And it was like when I was at probably my lowest of all time.”

Chambers, who took over the reins from Denok Miranda in 2024, had a rough debut season after losing five straight games and eventually ending Season 87 with a 5-9 slate in sixth place.

The Tamaraws improved on Chambers’ second year with a 7-7 record in fifth.

“Coach Bo was really, the one who told me that I'm doing a great job, ‘Keep doing what you're doing and eventually you're going to have those kids that are going to believe in what you're doing. You guys are going to have something very special there,’” he said.

FEU has since recovered from a season-opening loss to Adamson University with the tournament’s hottest winning run. The Tamaraws’ win over UP completed an impressive back-to-back domination of last season’s finalists following an earlier rout of defending champion De La Salle University.