Olsen Racela is tipped to get solid support from his fellow coaches when he takes the helm at University of Perpetual Help System Dalta in the upcoming Season of the National Collegiate Athletic Association men’s basketball tournament.
Racela’s predecessor, Myk Saguiguit, rallied behind the new Altas mentor, saying that they are all excited to work with him in a bid to help the school win its first NCAA title in Season 100.
A nine-time Philippine Basketball Association champion and assistant of Tim Cone at Barangay Ginebra, the 53-year-old Racela formally signed a two-year contract to serve as head coach of the Altas last week.
He hit the ground running as he presided over the training of the Altas last Monday.
Saguiguit, who fell a win shy of leading the Altas to the Final Four last season, said he is excited to work with Racela as part of his coaching staff.
“I’m excited to work with coach Olsen. As a coach, I will learn a lot from him and for Perpetual, the growth is there,” Saguiguit said.
“Coach Olsen will just extend what we did in Perpetual to get our goal.”
Retaining Saguiguit in the coaching staff will make Racela’s transition seamless.
In fact, San Beda University also did the same when it retained longtime mentor Boyet Fernandez as consultant when Yuri Escueta took over the coaching reins.
Saguiguit said he would help in whatever way he can to make sure the team will surpass the 10-8 record they had last season.
“For me, I’ll just help him. If I can’t do it with the Xs and Os, I’ll introduce the team to him. Coach Olsen is a legend and is a respectable player and coach,” Saguiguit said.
Save for Jielo Razon and Jasper Cuevas, Perpetual will parade an intact roster bannered composed of Denver Omega, Nath Sevilla, Christina Pagaran, Cyrus Nitura, Arthur Roque II, Carlo Ferreras, John Abis, Rey Barcuma, John Paul Boral, Angelo Gelsano, Richard Movida, Jearico Nuñez, Shawn Orgo, Bryle Mascariñas and Justin Thompson.
