After failing to reach the Final Four in UAAP S85, Coach Olsen Racela has decided to step down as the head coach of the FEU Tamaraws
After five seasons, legendary PBA player and respected coach Olsen Racela has stepped down as Far Eastern University men’s basketball team head coach, the school announced yesterday.
In a Facebook post, FEU reported the development just a month after the Tamaraws failed to make the Final Four in the recently-concluded UAAP Season 85 men’s basketball tournament.
“Coach Olsen Racela is stepping down as Head Coach of the FEU Tamaraws Men’s Basketball Team. Coach Olsen led the team to four UAAP Final Four appearances in 5 seasons,” the Facebook post was reported by Manila Bulletin.
“We thank Coach Olsen for guiding our Tamaraws with class and for always instilling the proper values.”
The 52-year-old tactician led the FEU Tamaraws to four final four appearances from 2017 to 2021, before losing three of those four shots to reach the finals against his alma mater Ateneo.
In his final season, Racela entered the competition without their best player in RJ Abarrientos after losing him to Korean Basketball League Ulsan Hyundai to turn pro.
Racela had a frustrating final season with FEU, calling it a “season of inconsistencies,” with a 5-9 record, falling to seventh place – their worst finish in 26 years, Rappler reported.
Under Racela, FEU gathered a win-loss record of 37-39 including the playoffs and failing to reach the Final Four for the first time since 2012.
Multiple sources have said that with Olsen’s parting ways with the team, five Tamaraws are also considering leaving, namely Cholo Anonuevo, L-Jay Gonzales, Patrick Sleat, Xyrus Torres, and Patrick T’chuente according to Tiebreaker Times.
With the threat of the core of FEU’s young squad jumping ships, where could these players land? Could another UAAP school reunite these players and potentially turn them into being a contender? Or will Racela take over in another school with his loyal players not far behind?
Tags: #UAAP, #FEU, #headcoach