Closing out games has been FEU’s biggest hurdle this UAAP Season 88 — a story head coach Sean Chambers knows the Tamaraws must rewrite soon.
In the final seconds of yet another close game, FEU found itself in familiar territory — within striking distance but unable to deliver the knockout punch.
For head coach Sean Chambers, it’s a story the Tamaraws need to rewrite as soon as possible or risk facing another lost season.
“We need to get over the hill of finishing games off,” Chambers said after FEU’s 69-66 setback to the defending champions UP Fighting Maroons.
[ALSO READ: Red-hot UP avoids upset from pesky FEU for fourth straight win in UAAP Season 88]
The Tamaraws have been in every fight this UAAP Season 88, but they haven’t been able to close out games.
Two of their four defeats came by just three points — one in overtime against Ateneo, and now another heartbreak against UP.
Even against DLSU, FEU fell short by just two points, 74-72.
“We need to earn the respect of the league by winning against the upper echelon of teams to let them know that we’ve arrived,” Chambers reiterated.
Down 69-66 in the final 14 seconds against UP, Jorick Bautista’s two missed triples summed up FEU’s frustrations.
Moments later, Kirby Mongcopa’s last-ditch pass to Mo Konateh slipped away — and with it, another chance to prove they belong among the contenders.
Still, Chambers sees promise in his team’s effort.
“We’re playing great basketball, but we just need to finish the deal,” he said.
The Tamaraws will look to break the cycle when they face another title contender, UST, before closing their first-round campaign against UE.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.