Olsen Racela is a proven winner, both as a player and a coach. And that winning mentality is what he's out to rub off on the Perpetual ALTAs.
But the seasoned tactician is aware that it's not going to be a cakewalk, especially with a young and rebuilding team like his.
Nonetheless, the first-year coach liked how the ALTAs showed their fighting spirit in their recently-concluded run in the NCAA Season 100 where they wound up eighth with a 7-11 record.
"I did like ‘yung fight namin the last two games and minsan ‘yun lang ‘yung hinihingi ng coaches eh and the result will take care of itself," Racela said.
"Sabi ko nga sa kanila, we did not get the result that we wanted but I don’t consider this season as a disappointment. Growing pains ‘yan."
[I did like the fight we showed in the last two games. Sometimes, that's all the coaches can ask for and the result will take care of itself. I told them, we did not get the result we wanted but I don't consider this season as a disappointment. It's just growing pains.]
For Racela, the future is certainly bright for Perpetual.
With only Christian Pagaran graduating, the Las Piñas will bring back a more experienced core come Season 101 led by their veteran holdovers in John Abis and JP Boral as well as the young gunners Mark Gojo Cruz, Axl Manuel, Henry Montemayor, and Emman Pizzaro.
Racela said the one year as a team was enough for him to gauge the skills of each player and for the players to understand what the coaching staff is asking them to do.
"Nakilala ko na sila at naintindihan na nila kung ano ‘yung gusto naming ipagawa sa kanila. It’s all about consistency, may mga habiits pa rin kasi sila na hindi naman mali, pero we have to work on the same page as a team," Racela, a nine-time PBA champion as a player and a 10-time champion as an assistant coach, said.
"One season pa lang kami so I feel na there’s more room to improve and learn from each other. So pahinga muna kami tapos balik kami ng practice ng January."
[I was able to get to know them and they now understand what it is I'm asking them to do. It's all about consistency. They have habits that aren't exactly bad, but we have to work on the same page as a team. It's only been one season so I feel there's more room to improve and learn from each other. We will rest for a while then come back to practice in January.]
Perpetual will also add some prized recruits come next season with the likes of Patrick Sleat and Kenneth Duremdes' sons Kenji Duremdes and Kylle Magdangal coming in to provide Racela the help.
"Moving forward, may mga padating sa amin and then I think ‘yung one season together will help us moving forward. Mas may familiarity na and everything. Excited na nga ako for next season e."
[Moving forward, there are guys coming and then I think one season together will help us moving forward. There's more familiarity and everything. I'm already excited for next season.]
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
