Sean: FEU is the right opportunity

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AFTER calling it a career as one of the PBA’s legendary imports in 2001 for the now-defunct Alaska franchise, there was no doubt in Sean Chambers’ mind that he would be back in the Philippines one day.

That became a reality when Far Eastern University last week tapped Chambers as its new coach in the UAAP, with the six-time champion reinforcement set to bring a touch of Tim Cone’s famed triangle offense to the Tamaraws.

“It’s always been a plan to come back and have some kind of impact on Philippine basketball. (FEU) just happened to be the right opportunity,” Chambers said three days ago on the Power and Play program hosted by former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.

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“Don’t be surprised because I do have a version of the triangle that I do. It’s gonna be very similar to Tim Cone’s but it has a little bit of a Sean Chambers flair to it,” he added.

Chambers, 59, who took over from Denok Miranda at the helm of the Morayta-based five, vowed to guide FEU back to the Promised Land.

“I promise that I’m gonna be Sean Chambers, I’m gonna give my 110 percent. I told the team: No coach is gonna outwork me. I guarantee it,” Chambers said.

“I’m different when it comes to success. Everywhere I went, I won championships from college to high school to the PBA.”

FEU, which bagged its league-leading 20th crown in 2015, finished seventh twice in the 85th season (5-9) under former strategist Olsen Racela and in the last cage wars with Miranda (3-11) at the helm.

Aside from Cone, Chambers was encouraged by former Alaska team owner Wilfred Steven Uytengsu to accept the Tams’ coaching job.

“I had a great conversation with boss Anton Montinola and got the chance to meet (athletic director) Mark Molina, the coaching staff with coach Denok (Miranda). It just fell into the right places. I have to say, FEU has been absolutely wonderful in the way they were dealing with me, working with me, negotiating the contract,” Chambers said. “I eventually got the blessing of Mr. Freddie Uytengsu that sealed the deal. This is not the first time they came to me, but this is the first time that Mr. Uytengsu was like: ‘Okay, this is a good one for you. I can say you’ll be successful there and they’re gonna look after you.’”
Chambers said it was fate that brought him back to the Philippines.

“It’s all been destiny, my whole life in the Philippines–winning the grand slam (with Alaska), how that happened, coming over when Derek (Hamilton) got in trouble. Just everything that happened in my life in the Philippines, right?” he posed.

“When I got hurt back in 1993, there was a chance I couldn’t play anymore but I came back after five games. It was destiny. I came back and played and ended up winning five championships in a row.”

Now maybe fate has a new plan for Chambers and FEU.

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