MANILA – Coach Sean Chambers is not too worried for the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, following their UAAP Season 89 opener loss against the Adamson Soaring Falcons.
FEU, this season's hosts, could not hold on to a double-digit lead and absorbed a 56-53 defeat against Adamson on Sunday at the Araneta Coliseum.
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For Chambers, however, this is not yet a cause for concern, believing that his team could have been affected by high expectations due to their hosting of Season 89. The mentor is banking on his experience as a PBA import, particularly in the 1996 season when he helped Alaska complete a Grand Slam.
"Well, I don't want to talk about my career here in the Philippines, but it reminds me so much of when we were trying to win the Grand Slam. And our first three games, we were extremely, how do you say, tight. You guys know what that means. We didn't play relax, and we didn't play, like, make it a basketball game," Chambers told reporters.
"And I know there's all the emphasis on the fact that we're hosting, so everybody wants to do well. But at the end of the day, it has to be basketball," he explained.
The expectations ultimately got the better of the green and gold, as they squandered a 13 point lead and were limited to 17 points in the second half.
Chambers said the team has been performing well before the season and during training; they just need to translate this to the UAAP.
"Now, the lights are on, you're in the big arena, you've got to perform. And I felt like we played with a level of anxiety with the fact that we're hosting. So I told them, put all the pressure on me, I'm fine, I'm okay. So put all the pressure on me, you guys go play the game, and then I'll take whatever good or bad that happens in the season," he said.
"I think everybody is speaking highly of us and everybody understands the talent level that we are. Because we are talented. But with that, it has to be with a level of just playing basketball. And we have to not listen to the noise," Chambers added.
The FEU coach said part of his role is helping his players rise above the expectations, distractions and outside noise that can weigh heavily on their shoulders.
FEU coach Sean Chambers during the Tamaraws first game of UAAP Season 89 against Adamson, September 13, 2026 at the Araneta Coliseum. UAAP Media
Chambers called on his team to pass the pressure on to him, as he knows how to deal with it given his experience both as a player and coach.
"I have to make sure I give them a position where they remind themselves it's just a basketball game. Well, it's more than a basketball game for everybody. Of course, management wants to win, we want to win, the school wants to win. But if we're playing with a level of anxiety where we cannot allow ourselves to play freely, that falls on me," he said.
READ: Chambers lauds 'phenomenal' Cabonilas despite FEU loss
While one game does not define a season, Chambers is optimistic his wards will be able to find their groove as the season progresses.
"Honestly, our message on the board today is, our expectation to win should never exceed anything you guys put up, or what the media is saying. And I think that's going to resonate, and I think we'll be fine with it more," Chambers said.
Instead of dwelling on the tough opening day loss, the FEU mentor hopes his wards learn from the defeat just like Alaska did in 1996.
"If you play basketball long enough, you coach long enough, you're going to see these kinds of games, and you got to grow from it. So keep grinding, get better. We'll be back in the gym, we'll be men about it, and we'll push ourselves even harder," Chambers shared.
The FEU Tamaraws will return to action against the UE Red Warriors on September 26 at the Mall of Asia Arena.