Olsen makes college coaching debut as Tams collide with Blazers

Games Wednesday

(Filoil Flying V Centre)

3:15 p.m. – San Sebastian vs EAC

5 p.m. – St. Benilde vs. FEU

MANILA, Philippines – Former basketball star Olsen Racela debuts Wednesday as college coach as his Far Eastern U squad clashes with St. Benilde in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup at the Filoil Flying V Centre in San Juan City.

Racela, 46, took over from his younger brother and now Talk N' Text coach Nash late last year to handle the Tams seeking to make a finals return after losing to the Ateneo Eagles in the Final Four of the UAAP last year.

It will be the first time that Racela, who has a storied PBA career spanning 18 seasons and highlighted by nine championships, six All-Star appearances and two First Mythical Team awards, is coaching in the collegiate scene after stints in the pros and with Batang Gilas, formerly Energen Pilipinas, a few years back.

"I'm happy to be coaching again although it will be a little different this time I'm now coaching in the collegiate level for the first time," said Racela, who is currently an assistant coach at Barangay Ginebra.

Racela will have in his disposal Ron Dennison, Prince Orizu and Richard Escoto, remnants from last year's team and two years ago when the Morayta-based dribblers won the crown, and newcomers Jasper Parker, who transferred from Southwestern U, and Arvin Tolentino and Hubert Cani, formerly of Ateneo.

The Blazers, for their part, have won their first outing against Mapua under rookie mentor TY Tang but dropped its next two to San Sebastian and Adamson.

FEU and St. Benilde squares off at 5 p.m.

Meanwhile, San Sebastian shoots for its second straight win in three games as it collides with a dangerous Emilio Aguinaldo, which is spearheaded by 6-11 Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou and Fil-Nigerian Sydney Onwubere, in the only other seniors' match at 3:15 p.m.