SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Noli Eala has included San Miguel Beer veteran point guard Olsen Racela in the short list of candidates as coach of the national under-18 youth basketball team. If picked, Racela will replace Eric Altamirano, whose three-year contract expires at the end of the year.
Eala said the SBP has already formed a committee after last Tuesday’s meeting to discuss suitable replacements for Altamirano, who, in turn, has been tapped to coach the National University Bulldogs starting January next year.
“The committee will study the list and we will know who will coach the RP Youth team by the end of the year,” said Eala.
Also mentioned as candidates for the 18-under team head coaching job aside from Racela, who is playing his last conference for San Miguel Beer in the Philippine Basketball Association, were Ateneo Blue Eaglets coach Jamike Jarin and rookie San Beda Red Cubs coach Britt Reroma.
Jarin recently steered the Blue Eaglets to a three-peat in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines junior tournament, while Reroma mentored the Red Cubs to a back-to-back title romp.
Racela was a member of the Philippine men’s basketball team, which saw action in the 2002 Asian Games in Busan. The team was the last batch of all-professional players sent to the quadrennial meet.
Peter Atencio, Manila Standard Today
