First-time FEU and UAAP coach Sean Chambers used a unique method for play calling that became a talking point in his debut. Find out why.
As FEU opened its UAAP Season 87 campaign against Adamson, all eyes were on the Tamaraws’ bench led by legendary Alaska import Sean Chambers. One thing that highlighted Chambers’ debut was a unique innovation: using placards for play calling.
If you watched the game, you may have noticed Chambers and his assistants raising up placards including one that featured Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young, another that had the Portland Trail Blazers logo, and one with the number three. It’s a departure from usual means such as hand signs to communicate with players in-game, but it’s definitely a more attention-grabbing method.
Even Adamson head coach Nash Racela tipped his hat off to Chambers.
“Well, it helps the other teams sa scouting nila,” Racela said in jest. “But I think FEU is doing the right thing. They should give Coach Sean a long contract kasi puro bata ‘yung players niya. They just have to be patient.”
Inspired by American football
Chambers’ unique approach is derived from American football, where games are played in huge stadiums that house mammoth crowds. While there aren’t any huge stadiums for UAAP basketball, one can’t deny how passionate (and loud) fans can get in big games.
“If you watch American football, especially in college, it’s one of the things they do because of the sound of the crowd and the noise. And if we’re trying to run a play for a specific player and they can’t hear me, so we put up a sign and they all know what that sign is,” Chambers, a California native, explained.
“We have a play that’s actually called ‘Trae Young’. So, there’s a big picture of Trae Young. We have a play that’s called ‘Portland’. So, there’s the Portland Trail Blazers symbol…It’s just something that will help everybody understand because my goal is when we’re running a play or a set, we all know what we’re doing, especially when trying to get to a specific player.”
He isn’t naive either about the drawbacks. After all, his approach is far from subtle and can be easily scouted by opposing coaches.
Chambers also knows how far teams can go, citing a 2023 scandal involving the University of Michigan Wolverines in his native America. So given this, we can expect those ‘Trae Young’ and ‘Portland’ plays to take on different names and signs moving forward.
But at the same time, he isn’t afraid to get scouted. For Chambers, dwelling on the placards will only disrupt an opposing team’s preparation against his Tams. And as a rookie mentor, he’d rather focus on mentoring FEU’s rookie bunch, and not the possibility of being scouted for an innovative method.
“If you’re wasting a lot of time to figure out my signs, you’re not preparing for your own team. So, if you want to spend time and figure out what our signs mean, good luck that you’re not putting in practice time to take care of your own team. So, ultimately, that’s what I kept telling everybody,” he said.
The signs, he said, will stay for the whole UAAP Season 87. Again, FEU is a rookie-laden team, and UAAP crowds tend to be loud, especially during big games.
Chambers already got a firsthand view after watching UP beat Ateneo on Opening Day. So as early as now, he’s prepared when FEU plays before a huge crowd.
As for his placards? We can expect more surprises, if not new names for their Trae Young and Portland plays.
“You’re trying to keep up on my secret, but I’m sure we’ll have a Johnny A [Abarrientos] play for sure out there, and a Jojo Lastimosa. Maybe a Jeffrey Cariaso when we run our ‘Jet’ play. So yeah, we’ll use some of those guys, but we gotta keep the other coaches on their toes and not give them all our secrets,” he said, mentioning his old Alaska teammates in the PBA.
‘Blessed’
Placards aside, Sean Chambers was thankful to finally make his UAAP debut. It’s been a lifelong dream for Chambers, who always cited it in his interviews.
“I feel extremely blessed to be in this situation to get a chance to actually live out a dream and coach in a UAAP game. So, I cannot be more grateful to be where I’m at in the Philippines. And not only that, to have my son here…to be here for the first time visiting the Philippines and to absolutely witness a game here in the Philippines,” he said.
While FEU lost, it gave Chambers a great sense of direction. Besides the mental edge, it allows him to figure out what works, and what doesn’t early on in his coaching style.
For instance, there’s the Tams’ conditioning. In Chambers’ view, that affected their ability to finish their plays as the game went on.
“I have to take ownership and take responsibility that we have to be in better shape. So, that falls on me. So, when you’re in better shape, you’ll shoot the ball better. And so, I’m trying to find that fine line between how much to push and how much not to push…It’s like, how much can I push them in practice to make sure we have something left for the game?” he reflected.
“And right now, I don’t think we’re where we need to be condition-wise because we kind of lost our steam.”
Still, Chambers credited his team’s opening act. The Tams were up in the first half and even led 19-8 against Adamson early into the second quarter before falling flat out of halftime.
Now, it’s a matter of finishing the job as the season goes on.
“We had a great first half. Honestly, if we would’ve made some of the easy shots that we had in the first half, we could’ve been up maybe by 10 or 12. And it’s a different part of the game, but that’s the youth part of us,” he explained.
“We couldn’t finish some of those plays. And then, at the end of the day, we can’t shoot the ball well…we were one for 22 from the three-point line. That’s tough. So, we’ll be better from it.”
Banner image courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.