FEU’s Jorick Bautista, left, Veejay Pre, middle, and Janrey Pasaol during a game against UP in UAAP Season 87.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Far Eastern University coach Sean Chambers’ first season with the Tamaraws for the UAAP Season 87 men’s basketball tournament officially came to an end on Saturday and one of the players that truly flourished under his system was Jorick Bautista.

Bautista, a third-year guard, improved drastically in Chambers’ first year as head coach for FEU and it didn’t go unnoticed.

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“I really learned a lot from him ‘cause he’s also a coach for Gilas. He taught us a lot, taught us to never give up and believe in ourselves. Even when we’re losing, he motivates us a lot and he’s there to lead us,” said Bautista in Filipino on Saturday at San Juan Arena.

READ: UAAP: UP shuts down FEU’s Final Four bid, ends slump

“He said it himself, he’s ‘built different.’”

FEU failed to end Chambers’ first Tamaraws’ coach tenure with a win as they faltered to University of the Philippines, 86-78.

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Still, that didn’t stop the Tamaraws from giving Chambers some things to build on for next season.

READ: UAAP: FEU’s Jorick Bautista sees silver lining amid struggles

Among those were rookie Veejay Pre and second-year shooter Janrey Pasaol, who finished with 15 points each, and Bautista’s progress.

“Everything that happened now, he’ll be learning from for next year for us and the team. For me, I need to mature as a leader and I know coach is there to guide me.”

Bautista, who finished with 16 points, was the second-leading scorer for the Tamaraws in Season 87 just behind Pre with 12.4 points plus 3.6 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game.