NASH Racela says he is satisfied with Far Eastern University’s season despite bowing out at the semifinal stage of the UAAP men’s basketball tournament.
The Tamaraws started their campaign on a high note, completing a seven-game sweep of the first round of eliminations, only to falter in the end with six losses in the final nine matches including the 71-68 setback against the Archers in the Final Four on Wednesday.
“I think it’s an achievement,” the FEU coach proudly said. “At the start of the season, nobody was talking about us. Some of you told us No. 6 ang FEU.”
“We are not really proving anybody wrong. But we took it as a challenge. We still think it’s an achievement. We didn’t want the outcome, but still masaya kami,” Racela added.
FEU’s finish was actually an improvement from last year, when the Tamaraws missed the semifinals, and although they failed to go deeper into the playoffs, Racela was still impressed with the way the Tamaraws played.
“We made extra passes. The players were enjoying. They were acknowledging drop passes. Pero ganun talaga. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose,” he said.
“We told the players to be proud of them, and heads up. I think the FEU community is proud of how they performed.”
The Tamaraws will no longer have RR Garcia and Gryann Mendoza by next season, although league MVP Terrence Romeo already declared he will play out his final year of eligibility.
“More important this year is that we represented the school better compared to the previous year. We now know that FEU can play well if it plays as a team. Our goal is to be better next year,” said Racela.
“'Yung group natin is destined for greatness. We can achieve big things but ang pumipigil, tayo. I know it’s a process,” he added.
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