Going up against the defending champions is one thing and squaring off with a family member is another story. But for Perpetual head coach Olsen Racela, it taught him lessons just the same.
Racela faced off with his cousin Yuri Escueta in an official game for the first time on Saturday, but the latter's San Beda Red Lions got away with a narrow 63-62 victory to send his ALTAs to their third straight loss in the NCAA Season 100.
Despite another heartbreak, Racela said this kind of game will only get his youthful team better in the long haul.
"Malaki, sabi nga nila ‘experience is the best teacher’. As coaches, we can only do so much, pero ‘pag nangyari na, doon sila matututo," Racela said.
"These three games, I think, are very crucial for our growth moving forward. We just have to prepare for the second round and hope na enough ‘yung natutuhan namin sa first round to propel us."
Racela has a wealth of experience in the coaching circle, having stops at Petron, San Mig Coffee, and Barangay Ginebra in the PBA, as well as FEU in the UAAP over the past 13 years. This is his first time, however, testing his coaching brilliance against Escueta, whose father is the sibling of his mother.
Setting the competition aside, Racela just expressed pride to see his younger cousin flourish in San Beda.
In fact, slugging it out with Escueta was enough motivation for the former nine-time PBA champion.
"First time kong kalaban si Yuri in an official game, kaya nanood si Mama ngayon, gusto niyang panoorin ‘yung pamangkin niya more than ako yata eh," Racela said in jest.
"Maganda ‘yung programa niya with San Beda, I’m learning also from him. Defending champions sila eh, and that’s our motivation. Meron sila na wala kami."
Escueta, for his part, said he made sure to gear up in his maiden clash with Racela, especially that he's very well aware of what the ALTAs can do despite parading a rebuilding team.
"A lot of coaching was involved. You would easily get outcoached ‘pag hindi ka ready so kailangan maghanda ka sa lahat ng bubunutin ni Coach Olsen," Escueta said.
—JKC, GMA Integrated News
