Rookie coach just happy nobody’s wary of Tams
In ordinary days, Far Eastern U Ð the UAAP’s most decorated men’s basketball team with 19 overall titles and a familiar fixture in the Final Four – would rank high among the projected contenders heading into the UAAP basketball wars.
But after a numbing meltdown in the stretch of the previous season and a rather bland showing in the Filoil summer league, where they failed to reach the quarterfinals, the Tams didn’t get much recall when the usual pre-tourney assessments were done.
“I’m happy we’re not ranked in the Top 2 or 3; it relieves us of the pressure, actually,” FEU’s debuting coach Nash Racela said without an ounce of bitterness.
Everyone knows the fate that befell FEU, which plummeted from runner-up in Seasons 73 and 74 to fifth placer in Season 75. From holding pole position at one point in Season 75 and staying inside the Top 3 most of the way, the Tams crashed out of the semis with three successive losses, including the controversial “replay” versus NU and the knockout with La Salle for the last F4 berth. This sparked a rebuilding under Racela, who replaced Bert Flores. Like majority of his fellow coaches, Racela considers the champions of the two summer leagues Ð National U in Fr. Martin Cup and University of the East in Filoil Ðas the biggest threats. The Bulldogs were also runners-up to the Warriors in the Filoil tourney.
“I see NU and UE as top contenders, nakita naman natin sa performance nila sa Filoil and, of course, Ateneo will be there, La Salle will be there, UST will be there. On our end, I’m just happy with our development. The important thing is we’re talking the right step in the right direction. We’ll take it one game at a time and we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The Tams are bringing back their deadly backcourt of RR Garcia, Terrence Romeo and Mike Tolomia. FEU had actually initially wanted a fourth shooting guard in Baby Tam Jerie Pingoy but the juniors star had other plan in mind, leaving instead for Ateneo where he’s currently serving a two-year residency.
“The biggest challenge is playing as one unit. FEU has been known to be individualistic. They have great talent, but more as individuals. The greater challenge is to how to get guys like Terrence, RR and Tolomia to involve their teammates,” Racela said.
Racela and his staff’s patient teachings about ball movement seem to be working.
“Good thing with our batch of players is they’re open to changes (in the system) and they are willing to take the necessary steps. That’s what’s important,” said Racela.
“Bilang beterano, isa ako sa magsasabi sa kanila na paikutin natin ang bola at paabutin sa last play (As a veteran, I’d be one of those who will remind the team to constantly move the ball to find the right shot),” said Romeo, who at one point in the summer was briefly suspended by FEU for disciplinary action but has since atoned for his sins.
FEU has lost four big men from last year’s lineup, bruising brothers Mark and Arvie Bringas and Clarence Foronda, and Russel Escoto, who suffered an ACL injury in the PBA D-League. Expected to fill in are imports Anthony Hargrove and Christian Sentcheu, Carl Bryan Cruz and little-used sophomore Raymar Jose.
“We’re positive our other big men like Cruz, Sentcheu and even Jose who didn’t play major minutes last year, they’ll be able to step forward this year and play major minutes,” Racela said.
Garcia, a former season MVP, decided to play his final year of eligibility to try to shoot for the crown that has eluded him the past four years. He played in two championship series, losing both times to Ateneo.
“Excited ako kasi last year ko na at ang goal ko is mag- champion sa FEU bago mag- graduate. Yun na lang ang kulang sa akin. (It’s my final year and my goal is to win a championship with FEU before I leave. That’s the only thing missing in my UAAP career),” said the Gilas cadet pool member.