Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Far Eastern University coach Olsen Racela believes defending champion Ateneo is a cut above the rest of the competition in the UAAP Season 81 men’s basketball tournament.
Racela also sees the formidable Blue Eagles very much capable of sweeping the 14-game elimination round.
“Everyone has a fair chance but Ateneo has the best chance,” said Racela during the UAAP Season 81 press conference Monday at Mall of Asia Arena.
“With the way they played in the preseason, I think I’ll be surprised if they will lose a game in the eliminations,” Racela added. “Ateneo is there and after Ateneo, I think it’s going to be a fair fight for the other teams.”
Last season, Ateneo lost only once to finish the eliminations as the No. 1 seed.
The Blue Eagles then, edged the Tamaraws in a Final Four rubber match before topping the Green Archers in a thrilling three-game finals series.
Ateneo, led by Thirdy Ravena, Matt Nieto and Angelo Kouame, also turned heads in the preseason after representing the Philippines in the William Jones Cup, where they beat the likes of Chinese Taipei to finish in fourth place, two months ago.
As far as his team is concerned, Racela hopes the Tamaraws make a return trip to the Final Four. They were 7-7 in Season 80, just one game ahead of University of the Philippines for the last semifinals slot.
“Making the Final Four is going to be tough. I always tell my players, losing one game can make a difference between making it to the Final Four or not,” Racela said.
National University coach Jamike Jarin, meanwhile, thinks Ateneo, La Salle, FEU and Adamson are the Final Four favorites while University of the East’s rookie coach Joe Silva echoed Racela’s sentiments.
“Ateneo’s the champion for a reason. They have a big target on their back, everybody wants to beat them,” Silva, the former Ateneo Blue Eaglets mentor, said. “I agree with coach Olsen, it’s Ateneo then, everyone else.”