Everybody just calling out his name... I tried to overpower the voices around me, hoping, wishing that he'll look back. I tried over and over again but it seems that everybody wants a piece of him, a wink, wave or just a smile. After sometime I gave up, I decided a glimpse of him is not bad at all...

Until the universe, where stars, planets and milky way started to line themselves in favor of me. The feeling was so surreal. I dreamt of this all my life. I stood up and took some big steps that turned into run. Then when I'm just behind him, a little tap from the back to let him know my existence.

"Hi Olsen! Pwede magpa-picture?"


Okay, so yes I was born in a family that are all basketball enthusiast or lemme say PBA enthusiast. I guess when I'm just in my mom's womb, she's cheering her heart out for the San Miguel Beermen. So I turned out to be SMB fanatic. I remember mom was head over heels in love with Yves Dignadice then. While my dad and big sister are big fan of Barangay Ginebra. Ooohhh and my big bro he's the "balimbing", whoever wins, that's his team! Tooooggssh!

Back in my younger years, I hurriedly went home after class to watch games. Some PBA nights turned into fight night with my sister, most of the time, especially if it's ginebra against SMB.




If I'm not mistaken i was in the fifth grade going to sixth when Olsen Racela moved to SMB from Purefoods. He's playing the pointguard position. I dunno what made me liking him sooo much then, maybe because of his braces that I find him cute and also his passion with the sport. As a matter of fact he was named before Mr Quality minutes because of good numbers in terms of assist, freethrows, and setting up the teams game even if he's not part of the first five. Then there comes coach Ron Jacobs, he put in new players for SMB that gave oneheck of a championsip. That was Olsen Racela, Mike Mustre, Freddie Abuda, Nelson Asaytono, Art Dela Cruz and for their center.... Uurrgghh! memory gap! I think that was Nick Belasco, then afterwards the two Dannys. After sometime we said a big hello for a GrandSlam win! Yeah man!



While most of my classmates then are going gaga with boybands and some hunky hearthrob from the world of movies, i was gaga myself with the man, my crush, the play setter, Olsen Racela.

A blast from the past

**I saved my allowance to buy basketball magazine featuring my olsen.

**While my big sister has Nick Carter and the rest of backstreet boys all over her room, I only have Olsen and Olsen at the back of my room door and wall!

**You'll find my books and notepads full of scribbles and name of him "Olsen #17".

**I watched the movie "Magkapatid" of Sharon and Judy Ann because it was shot at Olsen's crib.




It was indeed 18 good years for Olsen Racela in PBA, now he will be heading off as the newly-appointed coach of the Philippines Under-16 team gearing up for the FIBA-Asia championship late this year, Racela assumes another challenge apart from being a member of the coaching staff of San Miguel.

I've got my heartbroken when TNT ruined the last conference for Racela and grab the title but I'm still thankful that I got to meet him in person before he ended his PBA career.


Olsen Racela's career Numbers:
Points - 7257 (34th)
Rebounds - 1763
Assists - 3086 (8th)
Steals - 749 (7th)
Blocks - 93, 3PTS Made - 655 (8th)
FGs Made - 2549 (41st)
FTs Made - 1444 (33rd)
3PT% - 33.4%
FG% - 41.9%
FT% - 84.1%
Games Played - 925 (4th)
Minutes Played - 24972 (8th)



I was and will always will be an Olsen Racela fan. You, Olsen, will be remembered as one of the greatest guards the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) EVER. One last cheer... GGGOOOOOO OOOLLLLLSSSSEEEEENNNNN!!!