Tams play Blazers as Olsen makes debut

Games today

3:15 p.m. – San Sebastian vs EAC

5 p.m. – St. Benilde vs. FEU

MANILA, Philippines - Former PBA star Olsen Racela debuts today as college coach as Far Eastern U clashes with St. Benilde in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup at the Filoil Flying V Center in San Juan.

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 UAAP Final Four last year.

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

“I’m happy to be coaching again although it will be a little different this time. This is my first time to coach in the collegiate level,” said Racela, also one of the assistant coaches at Barangay Ginebra in the PBA.

Racela will have at his disposal last year’s holdovers Ron Dennison, Prince Orizu and Richard Escoto and newcomers Jasper Parker, who transferred from Southwestern U, and Arvin Tolentino and Hubert Cani, formerly of Ateneo.

St. Benilde, on the other hand, is reeling from back-to-back setbacks to San Sebastian and Adamson after kicking off its campaign with a victory over Mapua.

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

Meanwhile, the Stags shoot for their second straight win in three games against the Emilio Aguinaldo Generals, spearheaded by 6-11 Cameroonian Hamadou Laminou and Fil-Nigerian Sydney Onwubere, in the only other seniors’ match at 3:15 p.m.