Nine points, nine minutes in Olsen’s 900th

MANILA, Philippines–With his squad down 0-2 in the best-of-seven finals series, 17-year veteran guard Olsen Racela implored for “a San Miguel win” as part of his opening prayer in the 2010 PBA Leo Awards just before their Game 3 tussle with Alaska.   And it only took two quarters for his prayers to be answered as the Beermen leaned on their strong start and erected a 19-point advantage at intermission en route to a 96-80 drubbing of the Aces.   “We’re in need of it,” said the 39-year-old Racela, who also made history by being the fifth player in PBA history to have played a total of 900 games in his  career—joining a legendary list which includes Robert Jaworski, Abet Guidaben, Philip Cezar and Mon Fernandez.   “I feel old,” he joked.   “Of course it’s an achievement to have played 900 games, because the only players who have done that are my idols, I grew up watching Toyota and Crispa games, I grew up watching them and I am very honored to be placed in that group.”   For Game No. 900, there was little he needed to summon but his veteran smarts, something the longtime leader of the storied franchise has always provided. He was fielded for merely nine minutes, tasked to make sure the Beermen won’t blow away a comfortable lead down the stretch.   He gave San Miguel Beer exactly that, knocking down three triples and issuing two assists as the Beermen stormed back into the series with impunity.   “I’m turning 40 this November. My experience (is what the team needs). As you’ve noticed I’m asked to go in during the fourth quarter and I think it speaks a lot of what I can contribute to the team during crunch time,” he said.   He is set to retire on his 40th birthday this coming November but said that if the team still needs him to play, he’ll be good with it.   After all, with everything that Racela has provided for his squad beyond X’s and O’s calling up the services of the former Ateneo standout will not require a leap of faith by San Miguel.