By Joshua Kyle Beltran

As former University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tiger and Gilas Pilipinas Youth standout Zain Mahmood committed to the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws, men’s basketball head coach Sean Chambers has high hopes for the team’s progression alike.

“Zain’s a good talent, we thought we were gonna sign him last year before he committed to UST, but we’re happy to get him now… I think it takes the Fil-Am kids about a year to be adjusted here [UAAP], but after another year, he’ll be very impactful,” Chambers stated after their loss against De La Salle University in the Playtime Cares 18th Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup yesterday, July 4.  

The green-and-gold lead tactician officially welcomed the 6-foot-7 big man in a Facebook post made on his personal account last Tuesday, July 1. 

Perfect timing

As the Tamaraws continue to make vital adjustments after Veejay Pre’s move to the University of the Philippines, Chambers shared that the Fil-Canadian’s arrival to FEU was just on time. 

“[Miguel] Ona and Aeron [Bagunu], our seniors, they’ll be graduating, so those guys are kind of filling in the forward position right now. With him coming in after they graduate, it should be a natural fit for us, so we’re looking forward to that. We’ve been trying to find that nice flow between that forward position since the departure of Veejay,” he said. 

Having joined the Morayta-based squad for two training sessions already, the FEU head coach gave early praise to the former Gilas athlete. 

“He's been great, super high IQ, really good kid, really good personality, and that's what I want. I want people with good integrity and good kids that are gonna be great program people,” he shared.

While the Chambers-led cagers are set to join the Sacramento Professional Development Basketball League Pro-Am summer camp later this July, Mahmood’s participation is yet to be determined.

The forward clocked minimal playing time during his short-lived tenure with UST in University Athletic Association of the Philippines Season 87, averaging only 0.29 points and 0.71 in four minutes per game. 

Fittingly, Mahmood and Pre will face off in Season 89, after they both undergo one year of residency in their new homes this Season 88. 

-With reports from Marcus Isaac D.G. Bandong

(Photo courtesy of the UAAP Media Team)