SUMMARY
This is AI generated summarization, which may have errors. For context, always refer to the full article.
MANILA, Philippines – After months of speculation, the Adamson Soaring Falcons have finally announced the official appointment of former PBA mentor Nash Racela to the vacant men’s basketball head coaching position on Wednesday, December 1.
“For months, countless rumors have swirled about his next destination after his exit from his previous team, and now, we confirm and announce that Mr. Raoul Cesar “Nash” Racela, a UAAP champion coach and a proven bench tactician, has landed in San Marcelino,” read the school statement.
“His excellent track record in the collegiate and professional ranks were indeed considered,” the statement continued. “However, the main telling point is that his fatherly and gentle demeanor and coaching style fits the direction that we want for our Men’s Basketball program.”
Despite a dreadful coaching stretch where he went 2-19 with the Blackwater franchise in the PBA, Racela indeed holds a great coaching resume stemming from his time as chief tactician from 2012 to 2018.
After a successful five-year run with the FEU Tamaraws where he earned a 40-16 eliminations record, and one title in 2014, he shifted his full-time focus to the PBA, and led the TNT KaTropa to a 2017 Commissioner’s Cup finals berth.
Throughout his tenure as a coach, Racela never missed the UAAP nor PBA playoffs in 10 full seasons at the helm, and has amassed six PBA championships as an assistant from 2008 to 2016.
He has also kept tabs on the collegiate scene prior to returning as a UAAP head coach, as he was his brother Olsen’s deputy with FEU since 2018.
Obviously, he will have to vacate that spot given his new duty with the Falcons, a thriving basketball program left by Franz Pumaren, who is now a full-time public servant.
In his tenure from 2016 to 2021, Pumaren catapulted Adamson to perennial contender status in the UAAP, and has honed high-potential players like Jerrick Ahanmisi, Sean Manganti, and Simon Camacho.
It is now up to Racela to continue that winning culture with great pieces left in his disposal like Jerom Lastimosa, AP Manlapaz, Joem Sabandal, and Aaron Fermin.
He will also have familiar deputies by his side, namely current Baby Falcons head coach Mike Fermin, former FEU assistant Ryan Betia, ex-PBA players Rommel Adducul and Gilbert Lao, ex-Blackwater deputy Benjie Sipin, and former MPBL coach Ed Lorenz dela Torre. – Rappler.com
Add a comment
How does this make you feel?
There are no comments yet. Add your comment to start the conversation.