Nash Racela Revival – Manila Bulletin

ANGELES CITY – Blackwater’s new head coach Nash Racela seemed like he hadn’t missed a beat despite missing the PBA sidelines for a long time.

Racela led the Elite to a 2-1 record in the Philippine Cup at the expense of the winless NLEX, 98-88, on Saturday at the University of Angeles Foundation Sports and Cultural Center powered by Smart 5G technology.

But the 48-year-old mentor found it was not easy for him to return to the league after losing his position at TNT KaTropa two years ago.

“When I got kicked out of Talk N ‘Text (TNT), I somehow lost interest in the PBA. I haven’t been watching the game for at least a year, ”Racela said.

The former Far Eastern University tactician led TNT to a final and five playoff appearances in two years.

But KaTropa’s disappointing performance at the beginning of the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup led to management firing him and eventually replacing him with current head coach Bong Ravena.

Racela found her way back to the PBA after she signed a two-year deal with Blackwater in November of last year.

He could only thank his current Elite squad for helping him readjust to the league.

“What really helped me was the number one, the young coaches and players that we have. They have been helping me a lot by giving me input, ”said Racela, whose familiarity with the PBA also encouraged him to give another opportunity to coach the professionals.

“Number two is really familiarity. Most of the players I know, the tendencies of the team and the coaches are the same, ”he said.

“Those are the things that really helped me slowly get comfortable coaching again at PBA.”