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Guess which former NBA player is keeping tabs on FEU’s Janrey Pasaol.
Janrey Pasaol has shown maturity beyond his years as a sophomore guard with the FEU Tamaraws throughout the UAAP Season 88 Men’s Basketball Tournament.
As one of FEU’s go-to stars, Pasaol is averaging team-highs of 17.88 points, 7.38 assists, and 2.13 steals across eight games played. The spitfire guard is also second in the Most Valuable Player race, only behind DLSU Green Archers captain Mike Phillips.
It turns out that Pasaol isn’t only turning heads in the UAAP, with NBA-level talents also taking notice of his potential. According to FEU head coach Sean Chambers, it was just two weeks ago when former Golden State Warrior Kent Bazemore checked in on the young guard’s performance.
“Honestly, Janrey is such an incredible player and I’m so lucky to have him,” said Chambers. “I got a text from Kent Bazemore two weeks ago when we were kind of struggling a little bit, asking how Janrey is doing.”
Chambers shared that Bazemore got a firsthand look at Pasaol’s potential during the Tamaraws’ offseason training camp in Sacramento, California, last July.
“They remembered Janrey in Sacramento and how well he played against the Sacramento Kings guys, and they go ‘Don’t worry, that kid is tough and he’s gonna bounce back’,” Chambers said of his conversation with Bazemore.
“And so both [Janrey and Jorick Bautista] played incredible in Sacramento against NBA-level talents and G-League players. So what I envisioned at the beginning of the season, they’re bringing it at the right time.”
On Wednesday, Pasaol continued his impressive play for the Tamaraws, finishing with 15 points and a season-high 13 assists against the Blue Eagles. The sophomore capped off his evening with a game-sealing pass to Bautista, who hit a triple to put the Tamaraws up 73-68 with 28.7 seconds left in regulation.
“Janrey has been my guy since I’ve been here, and he’s phenomenal. Today was his best, and I think he continues to play defense. And that’s gonna make him more successful because he’s already a tough cover offensively,” said Chambers.
After a tough rookie year, Pasaol is glad to repay Chambers’ trust as one of FEU’s main men for Season 88.
“Masaya syempre, kasi alam naman natin na sobrang pangit ng pinakita ko last season, na second round na ako nakabawi. Dun na ako naka-feel ng college basketball talaga, so iniisip ko nung first round [of Season 88] na alam ko na ‘yung feeling dati, so ‘yung mga mali ko dati, naayos ko na.”
Images courtesy of the UAAP Media Bureau.