MANILA, Philippines – Nash Racela has been officially named as the new head coach of the TNT Tropang Texters, taking over from Jong Uichico who is now tasked to work full time as Chot Reyes’ chief assistant at Gilas Pilipinas.
This movement at TNT had been a hot topic in the PBA circle since the Texters upset by the Meralco Bolts in their best-of-five semifinal showdown in the recent PBA Governors Cup.
In a meeting Saturday, the MVP Group top brass made their final assessment of the Texters’ performance in the recent PBA season then came to the decision to effect a coaching change.
The Texters had a poor showing in PBA Season 41, failing to get past the quarterfinals in both the all-Filipino tourney and in the Commissioner’s Cup, then after topping the Governors Cup elims suffered the reversal at the hands of the Bolts in the semis.
Making the assessment were no less than MVP Group top boss Manny V. Pangilinan with top executives Ricky Vargas and Patrick Gregorio, and team manager Virgil Villavicencio.
The management was obviously disappointed over TNT’s Governors Cup exit.
With this development, the management cancelled the Texters’ practice today as Racela is to attend a meeting with Gregorio and Villavicencio. Racela starts presiding over the Texters’ practice tomorrow.
“We start negotiation for his contract (in today’s meeting),” said Villavicencio.
A little conflict in Racela’s schedule would happen if his FEU Tamaraws’ team in the UAAP goes all the way to the finals.
The next PBA season kicks off Nov. 20 while the UAAP season won’t be over until early December.
Racela is finally taking head-coaching job in the pro league after serving as deputy for a long time at San Miguel Corp. then at MVP Group. He’s been under Reyes for the longest time from their days at Coca-Cola, San Miguel Beer, Talk n Text and at the national team.
An Atenean like brother Olsen, Nash had his major breakthrough last year in steering the Tamaraws to the UAAP championship and the Gilas cadet to the SEABA Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.