PERPETUAL coach Olsen Racela admitted that he never expected his new job to be this daunting, but he just welcomed this new challenge of rebuilding the Altas men’s basketball program.
“That’s basketball. May mga umalis, so kailangan palitan. It just opens more opportunities for those who are still here,” he said.
Racela has already hit the ground running in his new role, securing transferees to bolster his Perpetual roster.
Since assuming the role, Racela has already secured the commitments of Patrick Sleat from Far Eastern University, LA Casinillo from National University, and the trio of JM Tulabut, Allen Maglupay, and Josh Alcantara from the University of the East.
“Lima yung umalis, so lima rin yung pumalit,” he said, referring to those who departed the program namely Jun Roque, Mark Omega, and Carlo Ferreras (Letran), Cyrus Nitura (EAC), and Joey Barcuma (MPBL).
Those five, however, will have to redshirt and will be cleared to play come NCAA Season 101.
As for the immediate future, Perpetual was able to keep NCAA Season 99 juniors Rookie of the Year Mark Gojo Cruz in its fray.
He is set to join a roster that includes Cedrick Abis, JP Boral, Christian Pagaran, and Scottie Thompson’s younger brother Justin.
Racela is also hopeful that MVP Amiel Acido will follow suit, which should make the Altas a formidable team come to NCAA Season 100.
But what matters most to him is those present in the practices as he looks at this preseason as a chance to hammer down his system in Las Pinas.
“Yun naman yung marching order sa atin, to make this team as competitive as we can,” said Racela .
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