Thanks, Olsen!

Quite honestly, I never thought that Olsen Racela would be a great PBA player. I’ve watched him since his days as an Ateneo Blue Eaglet all the way to the senior Blue Eagles and to the RP Youth team to Purefoods and to San Miguel. In those early days, I thought that he was a good point guard but whose offense and shooting was suspect. In a team of talented Blue Eagles, no one could have predicted that he’d outlast everyone of his peers on those two title teams and still keep trucking. It was obvious back when he was with Purefoods that he was playing better than the incumbent Dindo Pumaren and it was fortunate that Ron Jacobs freed him from back-up status and bring him over to San Miguel.

Jacobs knew that Olsen was the first step and the key to bringing the Beermen back to prominence. He was not only a better playmaker and a leader but also a better point producer. His free throw form had improved by leaps and bounds. Those who watched in during his Ateneo days can certainly attest to his poor shooting form back then.

Watching the San Miguel-Ginebra game last night as Racela brought the team back in the third quarter, I realized that the back-ups that were signed to replace him – LA Tenorio (who SMB regrets trading and has since tried several times to bring him back), Jonas Villanueva, Mike Cortez, and Brandon Cablay – have all moved elsewhere. While there’s the new tandem of Alex Cabagnot and Paul Artadi ahead of him in the depth chart, Racela is able to chip in every now and then to help the team. Case in point: last night as he presided over the third quarter comeback. He no longer scores the way he used to but he is still an effective quarterback for the team.

Actually, looking at the Beermen’s bench – Olsen, Danny Seigle, Danny Ildefonso, and Dorian Peña – these were the former starters! It’s only gunner Dondon Hontiveros who has managed to retain his starting job.

He’s on his final tournament of duty before he hangs up his hightops. Next stop – back in blue and white as a coach?

Anyways, here are his PBA Awards:

Mr. Quality Minutes 1993

Mythical First Team 2000 & 2001

Mythical Second Team 1998, 1999, 2004-05

PBA All-star 5x

2000 Assists Club member

900 Games Club member

He’s been a part of seven champion SMB teams as well (did I get this right?).