A CONVINCING win in his coaching debut for Perpetual Help is not enough to convince Altas coach Olsen Racela that his team is a title contender in the 100th NCAA basketball tournament.
“Maaga pa kasi. Isang game pa lang ito. So, hindi gauge ang isang game. Two rounds iyan so 18 games, ‘di ba?” Racela posed after Perpetual whipped Jose Rizal University last Sunday 82-66. “So, isang laro pa lang ito but you know, we’re slowly getting there.
“The players are understanding kung ano iyong dapat gawin, iyong role nila and iyong sistema namin so hopefully dahan-dahan (pataas),” he added.
The Altas take on the Arellano University Chiefs today for a piece of the early lead with College of St. Benilde and San Sebastian College at The Arena in San Juan.
The game is set at 2:30 p.m. after the Heavy Bombers clash with the Letran Knights at noon.
Mark Gojo Cruz, straight out of the high school program of Perpetual, flourished in his seniors’ debut with an all-around game of 15 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
While Racela was satisfied, he thinks everything will be part of the learning curve.
“We’re learning, adjusting with each other. It will be a long process,” Racela said.
The Chiefs are shooting for their first win, hoping to bounce back from a heartbreaking 80-87 defeat at the hands of the Emilio Aguinaldo College Generals five days ago
The all-bald Knights, now coached by Allen Ricardo, dropped their first outing–a stinging 91-84 setback to the Golden Stags last Sunday.
“Well, iyong opportunity nandun, it’s up to them kung ano’ng gagawin nila sa opportunity, ‘di ba? Iyon iyong sinasabi ko sa kanila and not just JP (Boral), guys off the bench, guys who were not in the line-up last year, nasa Team B namin, hindi sanay maglaro,” Racela said. “They played quality minutes. Iyon lang hinihingi ko sa kanila. Iyong resulta will take care of itself pero iyong ginagawa nila (like) just give their best, and then iyong result will follow. But it’s a total team effort.”
