Always Christmas with Sean Chambers

It has been 30 years since Sean Chambers first came to the Philippines. In a sense, his heart never left. The only player other than Norman Black to be bestowed the “Mr. 100 Percent” in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association, Alaska Milk’s former resident import bridged the 1980’s to early 2000’s with excellence, intensity and professionalism that is still looked up to today. Chambers returned to his hometown of Sacramento yesterday after spending a week with the young Aces, imparting his wisdom and experience from Alaska’s formative years through its Grand Slam in 1996, and beyond.

Actually, Chambers was a baseball player in his youth. His mother didn’t want him to play football for fear he would get hurt. Then in sixth grade, one of his teachers formed a basketball team, lighting a joyous fire in young Sean that has not abated since.

“Fell in love with it,” Chambers confessed, smiling his broad, trademark grin. “Something just clicked. I was running up and down the court. It was lay-up, lay-up, lay-up. Didn’t know how to play yet. Scored maybe 40, 50 points.”

That infectious spirit and tremendous athletic ability endeared Sean to Filipinos when he first came to the Philippines as part of an IBA selection in 1989. But it was also tempered with discipline and a spiritual strength instilled by his mother. Even when Sean was a high school sensation, he would have to leave in the middle of games every Tuesday and Thursday evening to go to church. 

“You have to understand: I was the man,” Chambers laughs. “I was the superstar. Then my mom would come to the gym, and my coach would call a timeout so I could leave. I changed in the car – didn’t shower. That went on through my freshman, sophomore and junior years.”

With this habit ingrained in him, when Chambers started traveling to play basketball professionally, he was unlike other imports who went out drinking and looking for trouble. He stayed in his room figuring out how to beat his next opponent.

“I’m thinking how I’m going to guard Nelson Asaytono, or how I can stop Alvin Patrimonio,” Chambers recalls. “Every year, they got better and better and better.”

One of Chambers’ favorite memories was winning the Grand Slam in 1996. After the Milkmen defeated Purefoods in the All-Filipino Conference, their import for the second conference had been sent home after testing positive for marijuana. Chambers, who had arrived early to prepare for the third conference, was asked to sub. Though not yet in game shape and playing in a tournament for bigger imports, his familiarity with Tim Cone’s system proved to be a major advantage. Then, the third conference was an easier challenge to overcome. There he was, in Araneta Coliseum, besting Ginebra for a Grand Slam during Christmas season. There was nothing sweeter.

Today, Sean Chambers is universally remembered, respected, and loved by Filipino basketball fans everywhere he goes.

“People aren’t mad ‘cause I’m not beating their favorite teams anymore,” he chuckles.

And that’s why it’s always Christmas when Sean Chambers is around.