In the race to book the final ticket to the Final Four of the UAAP Season 84 Men’s Basketball Tournament, three teams, Adamson University, Far Eastern University, and National University, had a chance on the final elimination round gameday to seal the deal.
With Adamson defeating UE 65-53 early in the morning, it remained within touching distance with a 6-8 win-loss record. However, the Soaring Falcons were eliminated from contention after FEU walloped University of Santo Tomas 109-65.
While Tamaraws mentor Olsen Racela was pleased that his boys went one step closer to reaching the semi-finals for the eighth year in a row, he couldn’t help but sympathize with the Soaring Falcons, who are under the mentorship of his brother Nash.
“Kanina nagkita kami sa hallway eh. Sabi ko sa kanya, ‘Ano waiting na lang?’ Sabi niya, ‘Hindi, kunin niyo na yan’,” bared the former San Miguel Beerman.
“It gave me more confidence really to get this victory. Ako, as brother, I’m just proud of what he has done dito sa Adamson program.”
Perhaps more than anyone, Racela knows how hard his sibling worked to get this far in his debut campaign with the San Marcelino school. It must not have been easy for the current Ginebra San Miguel assistant to see the UAAP Season 78 champion toil with Blackwater in the PBA and this is indeed a welcome respite.
It does not take an Adamson fan nor being a member of the Racela clan to see that Nash has done a great job so far with the Soaring Falcons.
Taking over officially in December last year, the former Blackwater head coach led Adamson to six wins this season, which is an improvement from its Season 82 record of 4-10.
“This is his first year and nakita naman namin yung nilalaro nila. They had to struggle in the first round but maganda yung pinakita nila in the second round,” said the former Petron Blaze Boosters head coach, who had a 1-1 head-to-head record with Nash this season.
Without a doubt, Adamson under Nash will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. For now, the Soaring Falcons can take solace that they produced a good building block for future success.
Ever the loving brother, Olsen is just happy to see Nash in an environment where he can thrive in.
“It just shows malaki pa yung potential ng team na to with Coach Nash as their head coach.”
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