FAR Eastern University will be splitting its squad for matches in the PBA D-League and the Philippine Collegiate Champions League (PCCL) that will be held at the same time on Monday in separate venues.
Coach Nash Racela already has a plan on which players will play where, although he hasn’t decided which side to handle. The veteran coach said FEU tried asking both leagues for a possible schedule adjustment, but neither gave way.
The FEU-backed MJM M-Builders will have a D-League game against BreadStory-Lyceum at the JCSGO gym slated at 4 p.m., the same time the Tamaraws begin battle in the PCCL against La Salle at the Ynares Sports Arena.
"Four o'clock, we have D-League. Four o'clock, may PCCL game ang FEU," FEU coach Nash Racela said.
Racela said they will most likely have Mac Belo, Mike Tolomia, and the Tamaraws core play in the D-League due to the school's commitment with MJM, a production outfit.
UAAP champion National University, which also has players in the MJM squad in the PBA D-League, also has a PCCL game at 2 p.m. against NCAA titlist San Beda.
“Right now, ang FEU talaga committed to a partnership with MJM. If there is a team that will sacrifice, definitely it’s FEU,” said Racela.
“Most likely, our core will play in the D-League, and the rest, sa PCCL. And we are playing La Salle,” said Racela.
The Tamaraws are in third place with a 0-1 win-loss mark in Group B of the PCCL. The top two teams in the group advance to the semifinals.
In the D-League, the M-Builders recently won their first game after three straight defeats to open the conference.
Racela said the PBA D-League exposure is a great opportunity for the UAAP Season 77 runner-ups Tamaraws to gain experience as they build up for next year.
“Like some of our players, they are comfortable in the UAAP pero sa D-League, hindi. Kailangan nilang matutunan ’yun,” said Racela.
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