2015 FEU champion team continues to bond, this time through bikes

Nash Racela says biking group a testament of champion Tamaraws' tight bond
Jul 2, 2020

TO say that the Far Eastern University champion team of 2015 is one of the most tight-knit groups in collegiate basketball is a massive understatement.

And not even the global COVID-19 pandemic could stop this group from bonding together.

"Ganoon naman eh. Yung samahan shouldn't stop after basketball," coach Nash Racela told Spin.ph as he proudly shared the group's new cycling hobby.

Players and coaches of that UAAP Season 78 championship team has found a new way to come together, which is to do bicycle rides around the metro.

And it all started with the initiative of biking afficionados on the coaching staff.

"Longtime bikers na sila coaches Allan (Albano), Jonathan (de Guzman), at Marvin (Valderrama). Sila talaga ang may pakana niyan," said Racela, now the Blackwater mentor and FEU consultant to his brother Olsen.

From there, the itch to push the pedal rubbed off on the other members of the team.

Coach Nash soon joined in and eventually, so did players Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Ron Dennison, and Barkley Ebona. Rene Tabasin, the Tamaraws' head utility, also is part of the group, as well as assistant coach Ryan Betia.

"Naimbita lang. Medyo lumalaki na rin (yung group)," shared Racela, with players such as Mac Belo, Russel Escoto, and Wendell Comboy all pledging to join in the next ride.

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The FEU bikers have now had three trips under their belts, going around FEU-Diliman first before making the trek to Antipolo, with their latest being just last Wednesday.

Racela said that the group wants to sustain this habit and make it a weekly thing.

"The plan is to do it during midweek together kasi pag weekends, sa ibang grupo naman ang ride namin," he said.

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    Though a lot has changed in the five years that has passed since this group hoisted the UAAP trophy, Racela is proud of what this team has accomplished and is happy that the bond between them is still evident until now.

    "Ganyan ang totoong relationship, pangmatagalan," he said.

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