Janrey Pasaol. —UAAP MEDIA .

Sean Chambers has always known that Far Eastern University (FEU) would be a problem for other teams in the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament.

And that’s even when the Tamaraws toted a 1-6 (win-loss) record.

Article continues after this advertisement

Now, FEU is validating its coach’s faith as it continues to boost with its chance of breaking through the Final Four.

FEATURED STORIES SPORTS PBA Finals: Tim Cone takes responsibility for Justin Brownlee showing SPORTS Kat Tolentino staying patient as she plays through auditory condition SPORTS UAAP: Nic Cabañero explosion fuels UST closer to Final Four

The Tamaraws completed a season sweep of Ateneo with a 65-54 triumph on Saturday at Smart Araneta Coliseum to put pressure on the other playoffs chasers.

“I sent [the Tamaraws] a message today on our chatline [saying] ‘I’m hard on you with discipline because I love you. If I don’t love you, I won’t discipline you because I want the best for you,” Chambers said.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Their response has been amazing. Basically, they’re just good kids. They’re disciplined. And they wanna win. Sometimes, we kinda get a little bit out of the things we do. But at the end of the day, they kept fighting,” he added.

Article continues after this advertisement Settling scores

FEU rose to No. 5 after improving to a 5-7 card and celebrated a milestone of sorts.

Article continues after this advertisement

“[O]ur goal was to … can we beat a team twice in the tournament? So, that was the big thing for today. And [the goal] continued to grow from [just having more wins than] last year.”

Chambers has also been vocal at settling scores with the teams that defeated them in the first round and save for repeating over the Blue Eagles, the Tamaraws have avenged losses against Adamson, National University and University of the East.

Article continues after this advertisement

“The guys are once again, so coachable. And they are getting better … You have to have some success in order for them to completely be bought into it,” Chambers said.

Despite that collection of wins, however, Chambers believes his team turned things around on its losses. FEU has lost both games to defending champion La Salle this season—68-62 in the first round and 58-53 in the second.

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

SIGN ME UP

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

“In the first round where we only had a win and then we played La Salleokebet, that’s where we felt the boost in every practice where we think ‘we can play closely against the No. 1 team,’” Janrey Pasaol, who had a career-best performance with 14 points, seven rebounds and six assists, said.

READ NEXT At 7, Aleia Aielle Aguilar defies odds–and bigger foes Akari bucks slow start, rips Galeries EDITORS' PICK WHO, 50 countries warn UN of ransomware attacks on hospitals Trump win spurs thoughts of leaving Filipino nursing aides charged with assault acted in self-defense, group says Senators hail new PH laws on maritime zones, archipelagic sea lanes Miss Earth 2024: PH bet Irha Mel Alfeche advances to Top 12 Nika now a storm, Signal No. 1 up in Northern Luzon areas MOST READ Nika prompts Signal No. 1 in Luzon areas Comelec wraps up COC, CAN filing for first BARMM parliamentary polls Nika may reach peak intensity before landfall on Monday – Pagasa LPA is now Tropical Depression Nika inside PAR Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments

• okebet
• FEU
• Rise
• nears
• Continues