'Rah Rah' Racela's last hurrah: SMB guard nears end of 18-year pro career

The curtain is definitely going down on Olsen Racela’s storied Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) career by the end of the season-opening Philippine Cup.

The cerebral point guard was given a fitting tribute by the league and his team San Miguel Beer Friday night before the start of Game 3 of the Finals between the Beermen and the Talk ‘N Text Tropang Texters before a big weekend crowd at the Araneta Coliseum. Playing in his 18th season, Racela had been vocal in the past that he plans to finally retire by the time he turns 40. He reached that milestone last November. Waxing nostalgic, the five-time All-Star thanked everyone, from the San Miguel management to his teammates, coaches, and especially all basketball fans, whom he said heartily supported him through good times and bad in the 18 years that he played in Asia’s pioneering pro league. "Salamat po sa 18 taon na pag-suporta ninyo sa akin," said Racela as he addressed the audience while trying to hold back tears. “It was all worth it." San Miguel team manager Hector Calma and coach Ato Agustin, accompanied by PBA commissioner Atty. Chito Salud, presented Racela with a laminated set of his No. 17 San Miguel jersey. Racela, the former Ateneo Blue Eagles point guard, repeatedly thumped his chest as he rattled off a series of names whom he thanked for helping him become the player that he is. “It’s my way of trying to control my emotions," he said of the need to pound his chest while making his speech. “Otherwise, baka hindi ko mapasalamatan yung mga dapat kong pasalamatan." Racela came into the league as the 12th selection of Purefoods in the 1993 Rookie Draft. With the Hotdogs, he played as back-up to star guard Dindo Pumaren, but won two titles with the team under coach Chot Reyes. But his career would reach new heights the moment the brilliant Ron Jacobs tapped his services to be San Miguel’s leading backcourt player in tandem with the talented Nelson Asaytono. With the Beermen, Racela went on to win seven championships, was voted to the First Mythical Team twice and three times in the Second Mythical Team. He also became the 21st member of the 2,000 assists club and fifth of the 900 games club. During his stint with San Miguel, Racela was twice chosen as member of the all-pro team that suited up for the Asian Games in 1998 (Bangkok) and 2002 (Busan, South Korea), respectively. The Busan Asiad, however, turned out to be a living nightmare for Racela, whose two missed free throws in the dying seconds of the semifinals game against Korea cost the Philippines the win (69-68) as Lee Sang Ming nailed a dramatic three-pointer at the buzzer. “It was one of the memorable parts of my playing career for the wrong reason," Racela said of his Busan experience. But before calling it quits, Racela, who was recently named as coach of the Under-16 boys' national team, egged his teammates to go for a final shot at winning another championship for the San Miguel franchise. “To the two Dannys (Danny Ildefonso and Danny Seigle, the two senior players of San Miguel other than him) and the rest of the Beermen, let’s make one more run at a title," he said. – JVP, KY, GMANews.TV