To some, the Far Eastern University’s narrative this season was about unfinished business. But for Nash Racela, the Tamaraws’ unassuming and soft-spoken head coach, it was something else.
“Somebody said it’s redemption, but for me it’s a breakthrough,” said Racela after steering FEU back on top of the UAAP mountain following a Game 3 win over University of Santo Tomas Wednesday night. “A lot of people were doubting, saying negative things on FEU and our players, but I think it showed it’s not true.”
“The players have been good ambassadors of FEU and I’m proud of them cause they represented the school well and they sacrificed. It says a lot of the character of the players.”
Racela continued to preach patience despite falling just a game short of winning it all last year — that throughout the gruelling process — a championship awaits at the end of the tunnel.
“We just told them to focus on every moment, every possession, every game. And in the end, hopefully, we get the results that we want,” he said.
That moment finally came on Wednesday before 23,124 screaming fans at Mall of Asia Arena in a fitting finale that featured the top two teams in UAAP Season 78.
“My initial reaction was to be thankful to the Lord. It’s a hard game for us,” he recalled when asked what he felt as the final buzzer sounded.
“When we were struggling during the last few moments of the game, we kept on believing. Even when we were down. The players kept on fighting, believing that they can pull through. I could just be proud of my players.”
FEU Tamaraws head coach Nash Racela. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net