900 and counting

On Olsen Racela’s 900^th Career Game Played

And I could not miss out writing about it.

From his humble beginnings, Olsen Racela could have been on the twilight of his career now but seems to be unwavering in overachieving himself.

Being back up to Jun Reyes in the Ateneo, he became part of the championship team in 1988. In 1993, he was drafted by Purefoods, the same year he won Mr. Quality Minutes.  He played there till 1996 under which he won two titles while backing up Dindo Pumaren.

In 1997, he joined the San Miguel Beermen under tactician Ron Jacobs, of which he admits that being the turning point of his career. Jacobs relied heavily on him, giving him freedom and trusting his decision-making.  He was playing better came 1998. He earned a spot in the Tim Cone-coached Philippine Centennial Team in the Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand which brought home a bronze medal.

In the succeeding years, when San Miguel was building its dynasty under Joseph Uichico, Olsen Racela proved that he was the league’s most premiere point guard, orchestrating in the 5 titles the team won from 1999-2001. He became part of the Mythical Second Team in 1998 and 1999 and the Mythical First Team in 2000 and 2001. No wonder he made it to the All-Star 5 times already.

Despite all the credits there were, a quite lonesome point in his career happened in his close out performance in the 2002 Busan Asiad. In that second stint, Olsen buried a trey in the final minute of the game, giving the Philippines advantage, but only to miss out two important 15-foot line trip in a dramatic Korean 69-68 win.

Nevertheless, after that Olsen was still heads up chalking up his 2000^th career assist and yet some other Beermen titles in the 2005 and 2008 import-laden Fiesta Conference.

And just last night, this one’s absolutely long-time coming; Olsen played his 900^th career game in 17 PBA seasons in winning fashion as the Beermen took Game 3 away from the able Aces, chalking up their first win in the series. Racela went 3 for 3 from beyond the arch as he made an entry in the final canto alongside championship veterans Danny Ildefonso and Dondon Hontiveros.

“It’s an achievement to have played 900 games because the only players who have done that are my idols. I grew up watching Toyota and Crispa games, so I am very honored to be placed in that group,” Racela gushed in an interview.

Although the Alaska Aces still lead the series, the Beermen were quite convincing capping a win against them. They obviously had a hard time the past two games because of the ploy Alaska used on them but getting this ‘monkey’ of their back gave them a good feel.

After all, it’s a series. Riding on to a momentum could be twitching in its most fickle sense. Nonetheless, it’s a win and the team’s going to take it.

And it’s Olsen Racela’s 901^st career game I’m going to catch tomorrow.

Friday the 13^th‘s got to be lucky. Olsen’s going to orchestrate as if he isn’t 40.