After four generally successful seasons under Franz Pumaren, Adamson University has moved forward to a new era with coach Nash Racela.
Famed for his direction of building a team from the ground up, the UAAP Season 78 champion is looking forward to rebuilding the San Marcelino program. This, after it lost the likes of Sean Manganti, Jerrick Ahamnisi, and Simon Camacho in the long off-season.
Calling the shots from the sidelines, the former TNT head coach saw first-hand the potential and the growing pains of his team as they failed to complete a comeback in their 69-71 loss to National University.
“So many learnings for us,” admitted Racela. “I think that the players that we have now are more into experiential learning. Hindi enough na lagi mong pino-point out, pinapakita, but I think this experience today really helped them.
“My hope as a coach is that moving forward since they see now their mistakes and then experienced them moving forward, they can correct the things that we’ve been emphasizing.”
Down by as much as 14 points in the third period, the Soaring Falcons clawed their way back into the contest thanks to the efforts of veterans Jerom Lastimosa, Joem Sabandal, and rookie Didat Hanapi. While the win did not materialize, league observers now know that Racela has a three-headed monster he can utilize.
At this stage, though, the 50-year-old head coach’s focus is developing their game. For starters, Lastimosa’s carelessness early in the game yielded two fouls, which forced him to sit on the bench.
Still, Racela knows his team is a work in progress.
“No pressure actually,” he said. “We’re not putting any kind of pressure on them. But siyempre, there’s a level of expectation that we have, especially from the guards that we have.
“Again, ang daming bagay na kailangan nila i-correct. I think one learning that Jerom Lastimosa learned today that he cannot just commit useless fouls because we need him on the floor.
Having mentored the likes of Terrence Romeo and RR Garcia in the past, Racela knows that his current students have a lot to learn as the season grows.
He continued, “Kumbaga sa PBA noon, if you’re an import, then you should know when to use your fouls. Kailangan maging smart ka and that’s something that he’s learning now. It’s not like 2018 and 2019 when he was still the second or the third guard of the team.”
Racela added, “Right now, he’s the main player so kailangan matutunan niya yan. I guess when you’re talking about the other guards like Joem, there were moments that he was shining. But what we’re looking for actually is consistency.
You can’t just have your moments during the game. If you give me stability, then that’s the kind of moment that we want from you.”
Considering the long lay-off and the adjustments being made under Racela, it is safe to say that Adamson made a good account of themselves in their season debut. Just one more break or two could have changed the tide, and brought the Soaring Falcons the win and NU the loss.
There were and are so many challenges in this condensed season that they have to navigate past.
One such issue is one they had to face even before they played. Adamson has to make do without the likes of AP Manlapaz, Aaron Fermin, and Aaron Flowers this season. The trio are sitting out this campaign due to different reasons. Despite their unavailability, Racela uses the situation to provide a door for his other boys to prove their worth.
“We knew ahead of time that we would be losing some of the guys. We were hoping that si Manlapaz and si Fermin would be able to make it. Somehow we were preparing the other guys already. Siyempre the best ano talaga, the only way you could know that you’re really prepared is when you get the opportunity,” he said.
“For a lot of our other people, knowing that Manlapaz, Fermin, and Flowers are out, we always emphasize that this is an opportunity for them to be able to contribute and we’re all hoping that they’re up to challenge. Minimal minutes.
As long as they are stable, yun yung mga kailangan namin. Hopefully, those other guys will give that to us.”
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