FEU head coach Nash Racela. Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
The “dream job” can wait for Far Eastern U coach Nash Racela.
For now, he hasn’t lost sight of his goal to steer the Tamaraws to a second straight crown in UAAP Season 79.
The Tamaraws avoided an upset bid by University of the Philippines with a 63-60 victory yesterday for their seventh straight victory at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“A lot of people would say it’s every coach’s dream to be in the PBA, but it came to a point in my life that I would say, if it comes, it comes,” said Racela, who is being linked to the TNT KaTropa head coaching job in the PBA.
Although there has been no official announcement from the TNT camp on Racela’s appointment, more sources confirmed an Inquirer breaking story that he will replace Jong Uichico.
Uichico, sources said, will now focus on his assistant coach duties at Gilas Pilipinas.
Athletic director Mark Molina, however, eased speculations that the Tamaraws will lose their coach near the playoffs, when the next PBA season starts.
“There’s no doubt Nash will finish the season,” said Molina. “Whatever happens to his career afterwards, we will try our best to keep him in the organization in any capacity.”
FEU needed its coach to be spot-on against the Maroons after they fell behind, 8-28, in the first period.
“As a group we started really passive,” said power forward Raymar Jose, who finished with 20 points and 12 rebounds. “But coach told us to focus and we stuck with the game plan.”
Later, Jerrick Ahanmisi rediscovered his shooting touch while Papi Sarr continued his dominant form as Adamson inflicted more misery on University of the East, 79-71, and strengthened its Final Four bid.
The Falcons won their fifth game in 10 outings.