Racela on RP’s chances in Seaba: Good but Thai threat real

This appears on abs-cbnnews.com

Racela on RP’s chances in Seaba: Good but Thai threat real

by rick olivares

Nash Racela is leaving the Philippines for Thailand tomorrow on a good note. His FEU Tamaraws took down the highly-rated Perpetual Help Altas, Friday evening, 62-57, in the Filoil Flying V Premier Cup. Almost immediately, his attention turn to the new task at hand… defending the Southeast Asian Basketball Association (Seaba) Stankovic Cup in Bangkok.

The Stankovic Cup will be held from May 22-28 in Bangkok, Thailand. 

Racela, who is flying out of Manila tomorrow for Thailand to coach the Philippine team, pointed out to the host country’s team as their major threat.

“They are out to win the crown,” succinctly pointed out the veteran coach who last year piloted Far Eastern University to a UAAP Men’s Basketball championship. Racela has been a part of many a coaching staff that has won titles from Coca Cola and Talk ’N Text in the PBA to many a national team. “The game of basketball is growing all over the world. Even our neighbours whose national game is football is starting to get better at the sport.”

Racela noted that the Thais, with their Asean Basketball League veterans and their British head coach, Tim Lewis, who previously coached Raptors 905, an affiliate of the NBA Toronto Raptors team, went to the United States to train. “I think this is a welcome development,” said Racela of the Thais’ upgrade. “This improves the quality of the game and the competition. Other countries will also be forced to level up.”

Lewis is an experienced coach who has international experience. He was an assistant with the Bakersfield Jam in the NBA D-League, the head coach of the Great Britain U20 team and served as an assistant to its seniors national squad. “They will be more organized and receive better coaching,” added Racela.

The Thais will bank on their ABL veterans who play for Hi-tech Bangkok City — Attaporn Lertmlaiporn, Bundit Lakhan, Nakorn Jaisanuk, Patipan Klahan, and Sukhdave Ghogar.

The Philippine side on the other hand will find six veterans of its 2015 Seaba champions in uniform starting off with team captain Troy Rosario, Mac Belo, Almond Vosotros, Jiovani Jalalon, Kevin Ferrer, and Russel Escoto. Making up the rest of the team are Raymar Jose, Mike Tolomia, Roger Pogoy, Ken Holmqvist, Von Pessumal, and Jonas Tibayan.

“We chose Troy to be the team captain because of his experience,” underscored Racela. “Imagine, he is already in the PBA but he is still willing to play. I should say that a lot of the players here are making personal sacrifices." 

The top 2 finishers in the five-nation tournament will advance to the 2016 International Basketball Federation Asia Challenge.

The Philippines opens its Seaba campaign against Malaysia on May 22 followed by a meeting with Singapore on May 24, Indonesia on May 24, and the host nation on May 26. The gold medal match it set for May 27.

The Philippines has won seven Seaba cage titles.