00:35.3
And I'm very honored from Mr. Molina and the Montanola family
00:42.2
for bringing me on board here and giving me this amazing opportunity.
00:46.0
So far, it's been absolutely wonderful.
00:49.1
What I only expect, you know, of course, in my whole career in the Philippines
00:52.0
has been an amazing blessing.
00:55.0
You know, so much.
00:55.3
Winning new levels, winning championships with Alaska,
00:58.6
having amazing teammates and amazing coaching staff,
01:02.2
and of course, an amazing owner and mister.
01:03.8
We tend to, it's just always been a blessing of just being in this country
01:08.2
which I consider my second home.
01:10.8
So far, I've been able to attend three practices
01:14.3
and I'm starting to get to know the players,
01:16.8
getting to know the ins and outs of the UAP.
01:22.4
I have a bit of a learning curve to get to.
01:24.9
To know what's successful and what's going to be successful here.
01:28.4
And as I promised the guys,
01:30.1
I'm not calling Mr. 100% just by accident.
01:35.1
I'm guaranteeing that I will be the hardest working coach in the UAP.
01:39.4
Nothing to take away from the current coaches that are here,
01:42.0
but I just know what's in my core.
01:44.8
And my core is to give 102% of whatever I do.
01:48.0
So, I don't, you know, I'm trying to curb my expectations,
01:54.9
I don't expect the turnaround to take that long.
01:56.9
I want to have an instant impact on so many different levels
01:59.9
and I think we can do that.
02:00.9
But just minor details,
02:02.9
fundamentals of the game,
02:04.9
and playing for one another.
02:07.9
And the reason I'm here for the women's volleyball game today is
02:11.9
I want not only myself, but I want the players,
02:13.9
I want everybody in our community to understand that we support one another.
02:17.9
I really want it to be a huge F.E.U. family.
02:20.9
Just to see people walk with a jersey on right now today,
02:24.9
that's really kind of made me a little bit emotional
02:26.9
to know that I am now part of that family
02:28.9
and I want my players and I want everybody associated with the men's basketball program,
02:33.9
which is the flagship program of each university in the Philippines,
02:37.9
to be supportive in everything we do.
02:40.9
I think that's a lot.
02:42.9
So, I don't know.
02:46.9
Sir Mark, it's an exciting time for the program,
02:49.9
the women's basketball program.
02:51.9
What are your thoughts of having Sean involved?
02:54.9
F.E.U. has always been a contender.
02:59.9
I think we missed the final for the last couple of years,
03:03.9
but prior to that, we were in the final for 48 state years.
03:08.9
We still are the number one team in the UAP in terms of championships with 20.
03:13.9
We are always contenders.
03:16.9
We make do with what we have and we always compete.
03:19.9
But the last couple of years, unfortunately,
03:23.9
The best years of F.E.U.
03:25.9
And we felt we needed a change.
03:32.9
So, when the opportunity presented itself to get somebody like Sean,
03:40.9
And it's a perfect partnership.
03:44.9
It's a perfect marriage at all levels
03:46.9
because I think fundamentally our values,
03:49.9
what we have at F.E.U.,
03:50.9
the team's faith,
03:51.9
what we have at this program,
03:52.9
what the Panteola family believes in,
03:54.9
is the same way as Sean.
03:58.9
I mean, we see all the characteristics of Panteola coach in Sean.
04:04.9
I mean, he has a big background in education.
04:07.9
But outside of his basketball career,
04:10.9
he's an educator, he's a mentor.
04:12.9
And that's what we want our program to be exposed to.
04:20.9
It's more than just the basketball.
04:22.9
It's the type of person he is.
04:25.9
It's the type of coach he is.
04:26.9
I think he's going to have a big impact,
04:29.9
a profound impact,
04:30.9
not only in the program but in our student athletes.
04:33.9
And that's what we want our program to be.
04:36.9
So, we expect, as Sean said,
04:39.9
I hope it doesn't take long.
04:43.9
The UAB is very competitive.
04:45.9
Making the Final Four these days is difficult.
04:48.9
These days is different from 10 years ago.
04:52.9
So, we're ready to provide Coach Sean whatever it takes
04:57.9
to bring back a winning program.
05:00.9
Okay, the floor is open for questions.
05:05.9
Coach Sean, speaking of making it to the return to the Final Four,
05:09.9
what are some of the short-term and long-term goals for you?
05:14.9
My short-term goal is definitely it's at least go 500.
05:21.9
We need to win over half our games.
05:23.9
And then we need to take care of the games that I think we should be able to win
05:26.9
and then try to take down some of the clearly the top programs right now in the league.
05:32.9
And then I don't want it to be a long process.
05:35.9
I watch a lot of films and I don't feel like we're that far off.
05:40.9
And if we just take care of a few minor details on the fundamental side,
05:43.9
I think we can be definitely in the conversation of winning those games.
05:48.9
So, again, my mindset is kind of like when I came over with Alaska.
05:55.9
We were in last place and we quickly became in the first place.
05:58.9
So, I don't want this to be a long process.
06:01.9
I want to get after it.
06:03.9
But my expectation is to be successful.
06:08.9
Coach, after last season, the team lost eight players.
06:12.9
The key players like LJ Gonzalez, Patrick Steeve.
06:15.9
In your few practices with the team, have any players who remain with the team caught your eye
06:21.9
and could potentially take that leadership role?
06:23.9
I've been very impressed with Bautista.
06:25.9
He has a lot of range of skills.
06:27.9
He can shoot the ball.
06:28.9
He has tremendous ball handling skills.
06:30.9
And he has a kind of a good calmness about his game that I'm very impressed with.
06:36.9
I believe our corner did not play last year.
06:39.9
But he brings a lot to the table.
06:41.9
That I really want to kind of mold his game and make him into an impact player.
06:48.9
Kind of like we did with Petrinho when we had him at Alaska.
06:51.9
When he came in kind of raw.
06:52.9
And we turned him into an impact player for us.
06:54.9
So, I believe we have pieces there that we can be successful.
06:57.9
We have them there so we have to make them better.
06:59.9
That's our goal as coaches.
07:03.9
Coach, I guess which parts of your Alaska DNA experience would help you gain a firmer grasp
07:12.9
First and foremost, we're going to do everything with integrity.
07:16.9
We're going to do everything with putting the university first and foremost as our goal.
07:22.9
And then next is going to be, we're going to be accountable for one another.
07:26.9
We want everybody to be accountable not only to their teammates but also the university.
07:31.9
And we're going to work hard.
07:33.9
And then we're going to prepare like crazy.
07:36.9
As we said with Alaska,
07:38.9
the will to win is important but the will to prepare is vital.
07:41.9
So, that's what we're going to bring to the table.
07:46.9
And just details, minor details.
07:50.9
Now, of course, everybody wants to know we're going to run part of the triangle.
07:53.9
We run the triangle but it's a little bit with the Sean Chambers flair.
07:56.9
And so, it won't look like Coach Tim Cohn's but it'll be similar in some aspects.
08:02.9
Coach, how would you describe your coaching style with the players right now?
08:06.9
Because times have changed.
08:07.9
Compared to your playing years in Alaska back then and now with the Gen Z younger players.
08:13.9
Yeah, but which is interesting because I've been coaching in the States for the last 20 years.
08:18.9
Girls side, men side, boys side.
08:20.9
It's definitely a different respect and a level of showing coach respect here than it is in the States.
08:30.9
So, although it is different here but it's definitely they are willing to listen.
08:36.9
And they're willing to take instruction and they do it respectfully.
08:42.9
So, it's been amazing really.
08:44.9
It's been an amazing transition.
08:45.9
And I'm actually been impressed with the level of their IQs and how quick they're picking up plays as we're just pulling it at them.
08:52.9
You know, we've been throwing things at them like pretty quick in the last couple of days and they picked it up pretty quick.
08:57.9
And that's credit to Coach Dinoc and the rest of the coaching staff because we've been in conversation for a few weeks.
09:02.9
I've been sending them videos of some of the things we do in the States.
09:05.9
And they've been able to implement those during some of the practices before I got here.
09:11.9
So, I've been impressed with some of their knowledge of parts of the triangle that we're running.
09:16.9
Which will you be bringing in recruits this year or even next year?
09:24.9
We're going to be open to anybody that we feel that can help impact the team in a positive way.
09:29.9
I personally want to continue with the FU.
09:35.9
I'm a model of trying to grow within, you know, and trying to find players that are homegrown.
09:41.9
Because there's a certain love for not only the UAP, their desire to be in the UAP as kids, but also love for the Philippine basketball the right way.
09:51.9
Johnny A, one of the greatest FU players.
09:57.9
What did he tell you?
10:00.9
Johnny A, not only one of the greatest FU players, but one of the greatest players in the history to play in the Philippines.
10:05.9
I'm so lucky because Johnny A, when I first arrived, he was one of the first ones to come to my apartment.
10:12.9
He comes, you know, he brought me palmella.
10:14.9
So, he brought me food.
10:16.9
But Johnny's been very supportive.
10:18.9
He knows the triangle.
10:19.9
He knows the way I like to implement things.
10:22.9
He's been my voice when sometimes I can't say the words in Tagalog.
10:27.9
Johnny's been able to explain it for me.
10:30.9
But I told the guys, don't worry.
10:32.9
I'm going to learn Tagalog as much as I can.
10:34.9
Go back and forth with them.
10:36.9
So, but Johnny's been, Johnny A, he's been just great.
10:41.9
And I think that kind of helps me with the transition.
10:44.9
Having him there and Jojo came to the practice the other day.
10:49.9
So, it's been a great transition for me.
10:52.9
You know, really, I know it's a lot different for me than it would be for any other American coach.
10:56.9
Like, the coaching staff has been amazing.
10:59.9
But I have such an amazing infrastructure here, a foundation,
11:03.9
that it's been an easy transition.
11:05.9
Like, the players may not know me.
11:07.9
But as I told Mark, is that anybody over 40, they remember me.
11:12.9
And so, the parents know who I am.
11:14.9
And so, they're happy having me.
11:16.9
Coach, can you share us who would be part of your coaching staff?
11:20.9
I want to respect the guys that are in place right now.
11:23.9
I don't want to disrupt or change anything that's within that foundation right now.
11:28.9
I'm really grateful to Coach Dinag for allowing me to take the lead.
11:32.9
And him being my number one support staff.
11:36.9
Sir Mark, how long is your contract with Coach Dinag?
11:41.9
As long as he wants to be here.
11:45.9
It's long. This is not short term.
11:49.9
It's not short term.
11:51.9
We plan to content soon.
11:57.9
But we also know that the process can be...
12:01.9
It can be long at times.
12:03.9
And we're invested in Coach Sean for the near future.
12:09.9
So, it's multi...definitely multi.
12:14.9
Thank you, Coach Sean and Sir Mark.
12:17.9
And good luck to your career.
12:19.9
Thank you so much.
12:21.9
Thank you Coach Mark.
