At A Glance
- Head coach Sean Chambers knows his players' worth as they are expected to lean on the efforts of the remaining student-athletes in their roster.
FEU head coach Sean Chambers (UAAP Media)
Far Eastern University brushed off the criticisms hurled against the team as the Tamaraws plunge into the UAAP Season 88 action without their former prized rookie Veejay Pre.
Head coach Sean Chambers knows his players' worth as they are expected to lean on the efforts of the remaining student-athletes in their roster.
"It's a matter of we're just going next man up,” said Chambers, a former Alaska Aces import.
“We haven't really discussed Veejay [Pre] since he left. But it's like, the guys that are in the room, this is who we're going to fight for, this is who we're going to go with,” he added.
According to Chambers, Pre’s transfer from FEU to University of the Philippines shocked them instantly but a week later moved on and worked on themselves for the upcoming tournament.
“And so, at the beginning, it was a sting to everybody. But after that, about a week later, we were just back to business as normal,” he continued.
Aside from Pre, the Tamaraws also lost Cholo Anonuevo and Royce Alforque. FEU ended up at sixth place in Season 87 with a 5-9 slate.
To fill the void, CJ Amos, Liam Salangsang, Kirby Mongcopa, Neil Owens, and returnee Luke Felipe try to create a spark for FEU which still has Jorick Bautista, Mo Konateh, and Janrey Pasaol.
“This year, we're stronger, we're bigger, you know and really, the growth and the improvement of Mo Konateh has been amazing and we're going to use that, and we feel he's the best FSA here,” Chambers concluded. “And we're going to try our best to ride his shoulders as far as we can.”
FEU starts its campaign against Ateneo this Saturday, Sept. 20, Quadricentennial Pavilion Arena.