Legendary PBA import Sean Chambers is back in the Philippines -- and he is taking on a new role as head coach of the FEU Tamaraws in the UAAP. For more ABS-CBN News videos, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyY1WylJUmgUHWUpi2ioSp4xAP1SmAaf For more latest news and analysis from ABS-CBN News videos, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyY1WylJUmg4pcvfM9a96rbUcLD_0P_U For more News Digital News Raw Cuts, click the link below: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgyY1WylJUmi83yKJH8Dv0p_3D4cyZKzV Subscribe to the ABS-CBN News channel! - http://bit.ly/TheABSCBNNews Watch the full episodes of TV Patrol on iWantTFC: http://bit.ly/TVPatrol-iWantTFC Visit our website at http://news.abs-cbn.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abscbnNEWS Twitter: https://twitter.com/abscbnnews #Exclusive #LatestNews #ABSCBNNews

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First, I want to say marami salamat po.

I'm very grateful to be back to the Philippines.

I'm honored, humbled, and a little anxious about the whole experience.

It's been a dream of mine for many years to come back to the Philippines

and have some impact on the game of basketball.

Being in the UAP has always been a dream.

I don't think I've ever really thought about coaching at the PBA.

I love helping out, but never did I have the desire to kind of be a PBA coach.

But to come back and work at the university level has been an absolute dream of mine.

And I'm very honored from Mr. Molina and the Montanola family

for bringing me on board here and giving me this amazing opportunity.

So far, it's been absolutely wonderful.

What I only expect, you know, of course, in my whole career in the Philippines

has been an amazing blessing.

You know, so much.

Winning new levels, winning championships with Alaska,

having amazing teammates and amazing coaching staff,

and of course, an amazing owner and mister.

We tend to, it's just always been a blessing of just being in this country

which I consider my second home.

So far, I've been able to attend three practices

and I'm starting to get to know the players,

getting to know the ins and outs of the UAP.

I have a bit of a learning curve to get to.

To know what's successful and what's going to be successful here.

And as I promised the guys,

I'm not calling Mr. 100% just by accident.

I'm guaranteeing that I will be the hardest working coach in the UAP.

Nothing to take away from the current coaches that are here,

but I just know what's in my core.

And my core is to give 102% of whatever I do.

So, I don't, you know, I'm trying to curb my expectations,

but I don't...

I don't expect the turnaround to take that long.

I want to have an instant impact on so many different levels

and I think we can do that.

But just minor details,

fundamentals of the game,

and playing for one another.

And the reason I'm here for the women's volleyball game today is

I want not only myself, but I want the players,

I want everybody in our community to understand that we support one another.

I really want it to be a huge F.E.U. family.

Just to see people walk with a jersey on right now today,

that's really kind of made me a little bit emotional

to know that I am now part of that family

and I want my players and I want everybody associated with the men's basketball program,

which is the flagship program of each university in the Philippines,

to be supportive in everything we do.

I think that's a lot.

So, I don't know.

To Sir Mark.

Sir Mark, it's an exciting time for the program,

the women's basketball program.

What are your thoughts of having Sean involved?

F.E.U. has always been a contender.

I think we missed the final for the last couple of years,

but prior to that, we were in the final for 48 state years.

We still are the number one team in the UAP in terms of championships with 20.

We are always contenders.

We make do with what we have and we always compete.

But the last couple of years, unfortunately,

we didn't win.

The best years of F.E.U.

And we felt we needed a change.

So, when the opportunity presented itself to get somebody like Sean,

we grabbed it.

And it's a perfect partnership.

It's a perfect marriage at all levels

because I think fundamentally our values,

what we have at F.E.U.,

the team's faith,

what we have at this program,

what the Panteola family believes in,

is the same way as Sean.

I mean, we see all the characteristics of Panteola coach in Sean.

I mean, he has a big background in education.

But outside of his basketball career,

he's an educator, he's a mentor.

And that's what we want our program to be exposed to.

So, we got Sean.

It's more than just the basketball.

It's the type of person he is.

It's the type of coach he is.

I think he's going to have a big impact,

a profound impact,

not only in the program but in our student athletes.

And that's what we want our program to be.

So, we expect, as Sean said,

I hope it doesn't take long.

It's difficult.

The UAB is very competitive.

Making the Final Four these days is difficult.

These days is different from 10 years ago.

So, we're ready to provide Coach Sean whatever it takes

to bring back a winning program.

Okay, the floor is open for questions.

Coach Sean, speaking of making it to the return to the Final Four,

what are some of the short-term and long-term goals for you?

My short-term goal is definitely it's at least go 500.

We need to win over half our games.

And then we need to take care of the games that I think we should be able to win

and then try to take down some of the clearly the top programs right now in the league.

And then I don't want it to be a long process.

I watch a lot of films and I don't feel like we're that far off.

And if we just take care of a few minor details on the fundamental side,

I think we can be definitely in the conversation of winning those games.

So, again, my mindset is kind of like when I came over with Alaska.

We were in last place and we quickly became in the first place.

So, I don't want this to be a long process.

I want to get after it.

But my expectation is to be successful.

Coach, after last season, the team lost eight players.

The key players like LJ Gonzalez, Patrick Steeve.

In your few practices with the team, have any players who remain with the team caught your eye

and could potentially take that leadership role?

I've been very impressed with Bautista.

He has a lot of range of skills.

He can shoot the ball.

He has tremendous ball handling skills.

And he has a kind of a good calmness about his game that I'm very impressed with.

I believe our corner did not play last year.

But he brings a lot to the table.

That I really want to kind of mold his game and make him into an impact player.

Kind of like we did with Petrinho when we had him at Alaska.

When he came in kind of raw.

And we turned him into an impact player for us.

So, I believe we have pieces there that we can be successful.

We have them there so we have to make them better.

That's our goal as coaches.

Coach, I guess which parts of your Alaska DNA experience would help you gain a firmer grasp

of your team?

First and foremost, we're going to do everything with integrity.

We're going to do everything with putting the university first and foremost as our goal.

And then next is going to be, we're going to be accountable for one another.

We want everybody to be accountable not only to their teammates but also the university.

And we're going to work hard.

And then we're going to prepare like crazy.

As we said with Alaska,

the will to win is important but the will to prepare is vital.

So, that's what we're going to bring to the table.

And just details, minor details.

Now, of course, everybody wants to know we're going to run part of the triangle.

We run the triangle but it's a little bit with the Sean Chambers flair.

And so, it won't look like Coach Tim Cohn's but it'll be similar in some aspects.

Coach, how would you describe your coaching style with the players right now?

Because times have changed.

Compared to your playing years in Alaska back then and now with the Gen Z younger players.

Yeah, but which is interesting because I've been coaching in the States for the last 20 years.

Girls side, men side, boys side.

It's definitely a different respect and a level of showing coach respect here than it is in the States.

So, although it is different here but it's definitely they are willing to listen.

And they're willing to take instruction and they do it respectfully.

So, it's been amazing really.

It's been an amazing transition.

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.

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.

And that's credit to Coach Dinoc and the rest of the coaching staff because we've been in conversation for a few weeks.

I've been sending them videos of some of the things we do in the States.

And they've been able to implement those during some of the practices before I got here.

So, I've been impressed with some of their knowledge of parts of the triangle that we're running.

Which will you be bringing in recruits this year or even next year?

We're looking.

We're going to be open to anybody that we feel that can help impact the team in a positive way.

I personally want to continue with the FU.

I'm a model of trying to grow within, you know, and trying to find players that are homegrown.

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.

Johnny A, one of the greatest FU players.

Yes.

What did he tell you?

Johnny A, not only one of the greatest FU players, but one of the greatest players in the history to play in the Philippines.

I'm so lucky because Johnny A, when I first arrived, he was one of the first ones to come to my apartment.

He comes, you know, he brought me palmella.

So, he brought me food.

But Johnny's been very supportive.

He knows the triangle.

He knows the way I like to implement things.

He's been my voice when sometimes I can't say the words in Tagalog.

Johnny's been able to explain it for me.

But I told the guys, don't worry.

I'm going to learn Tagalog as much as I can.

Go back and forth with them.

So, but Johnny's been, Johnny A, he's been just great.

And I think that kind of helps me with the transition.

Having him there and Jojo came to the practice the other day.

So, it's been a great transition for me.

You know, really, I know it's a lot different for me than it would be for any other American coach.

Like, the coaching staff has been amazing.

But I have such an amazing infrastructure here, a foundation,

that it's been an easy transition.

Like, the players may not know me.

But as I told Mark, is that anybody over 40, they remember me.

And so, the parents know who I am.

And so, they're happy having me.

Coach, can you share us who would be part of your coaching staff?

I want to respect the guys that are in place right now.

I don't want to disrupt or change anything that's within that foundation right now.

I'm really grateful to Coach Dinag for allowing me to take the lead.

And him being my number one support staff.

Sir Mark, how long is your contract with Coach Dinag?

As long as he wants to be here.

It's long. This is not short term.

It's not short term.

We plan to content soon.

But we also know that the process can be...

It can be long at times.

And we're invested in Coach Sean for the near future.

So, it's multi...definitely multi.

Thank you, Coach Sean and Sir Mark.

Thank you.

And good luck to your career.

Thank you so much.

Thank you Coach Mark.