Cousins Olsen Racela, Yuri Escueta set for NCAA faceoff

With Olsen Racela being tapped as the new head coach of the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, a face-off against his cousin, San Beda University head coach Yuri Escueta is expected come NCAA Season 100.

Racela replaced Myk Saguiguit as the new head coach of the ALTAs, while Escueta just last December steered the Red Lions to its first crown since 2018.

"Actually ang excited [ay] parents namin," Racela told GMA News Online. 

(Actually, the ones excited are our parents.)

The two coaches are first cousins as Racela's mother and Escueta's father are siblings.

Going against a family member on the court is not new for Racela as he also faced his brother Nash, Adamson University head coach, when he was still handling Far Eastern University in the UAAP.

Still, Racela is looking forward to seeing his cousin on the court.

"Maganda, galing sa UAAP kalaban ko kapatid ko, ngayon pinsan naman."

(It's nice, from the UAAP, I faced my brother, now it's my cousin.)

Escueta, meanwhile, only had good words for Racela.

"Good hire for Perpetual," said the champion coach. "Having Coach Olsen with them is gonna be good in terms of basketball teachings, and in terms of building culture katulad nung sa (like in) FEU."

The San Beda coach also revealed he was asked by Racela about the ALTAs' performance before accepting the coaching gig.

Perpetual narrowly missed the Final Four in Season 99 and finished with 10 wins and eight losses.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News