Olsen Racela officially onboard as Altas coach

MANILA, Philippines — The Perpetual Help Altas have officially tapped PBA legend Olsen Racela as their new head coach in the upcoming NCAA Season 100, the team announced Thursday.

Racela, a multi-titled PBA point guard and assistant coach, signed with the Altas on Thursday.

Earlier, the heady floor general said that he already agreed to take the coaching job “in principle.”

In a statement, Racela said that the team will start training on Monday, January 15.

Perpetual barely missed the Season 99’s Final Four competition.

They finished the recently concluded tournament with a 10-8 slate.

Coach Myk Saguiguit will stay with Perpetual as Racela’s assistant.

Racela previously coached the FEU Tamaraws in the UAAP for five seasons.

They made the Final Four in four of the five years he was with the team.

Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson, an alumnus of Perpetual, earlier reached out to Racela to possibly take the coaching job.

The team’s core is still expected to be intact, with only Jielo Razon and Jasper Cuevas exhausting their playing years. — Ralph Edwin Villanueva