Finally Meeting Olsen Racela
1:05 PM
"I was still grateful to Olsen Racela, always would be, though I didn’t know it then. For being there when no one else was; for giving voice to feelings in me that had barely been born; for helping me grow up, which is so very, very hard to do. For giving me a boy to love, a boy who could never hurt me; although only because he could never love me back."
Qouted from Allison Pearson Novel, I think I love you. However I change David's name to Olsen instead. Hihihihi! *winks*
A little back story...
This is all about adoring Rodericko Olsen Racela so if you're a close friend you're probably fed up with this. LOL All right so in the beginning it was a typical basketball-fan-idol situation. He plays awesomely good with my PBA favorite team and I'm just one heck of an adoring fan. Backstreet Boys, West life and even Patrick Garcia aren't included in my boy list. I didn't adore anyone else except The Captain. I'm not really sure what about him made me single him out, but I grew very quickly fixated.
At this point, I saw how easy for other fans got to have meet and greet or just even asking for an autograph and jersey of their basketball idol by writing into this PBA fan mail. With this view of how easy my pen and paper will bring me to Olsen, I end up doing what the other fanatics do. It might have worked to others fans, or at least led to something rewarding in a way however real life, of course, works differently. When you're 12 years old and don't have money of your own, and you only have limited options and especially when you're competing with the million fans nationwide... oohh yes! Do I need to say it more?! After 2 or 3 letters, i gave up!
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| one of the poster i have in my room |
Although I am disappointed and gave up easily on my quest of this PBA-fan-mail, that didn't stop me to watch his games and cheer my heart out as if I was in Araneta Coliseum. The boob tube is the sole connection I have to this man! I always loose my temper when I hear someone bad-mouthing Olsen, regardless if they mean it or just to irritate me. Once in awhile if i have enough money, i would buy Sports Magazine especially if it features San Miguel and of course Olsen. While my elder sister have Nick Carter all over his room wall, Olsen Racela dominates mine.
Then college happened...
It was always a dream to cheer for this man and his team live at Araneta Coliseum. Flying out from my parents hub and living on my own in the metro to get my degree, I was forced to be mature a notch higher and tried to focus on my studies. So even Araneta Coliseum is one jeepney ride from my dormitory, my-Olsen-craze needs to be set aside for the mean time. Yes, Olsen and I part ways on that instance. I haven't heard anything about him, since boob tube is not allowed in our dormitory.Unfortunately boys in college are not that fond of PBA compare to boys in secondary schooling (college boys are computer geeks in my course).
Fast Forward.
Eight Years.
Play.
Got my degree and currently working as RA in one of the prominent hotel chain worldwide. I was checking on my facebook account when boy-or-man from secondary schooling posted something on my wall, taunting me how Purefoods or was that B-Meg already?! beat Olsen Racela and his team. At first I ranted how uncool this guy was, he hasn't moved on with this basketball craze which I already considered part of my childhood years, my past.
The taunt in a way succeeded, the rant of how-uncool-guy-and-hasn't-moved-on is actually a pretentious facade but the truth is i hate the guy for saying stuff, like our team is a no match compared to theirs. On that note I realized once a basketball fan always a basketball fan. There's no way I can recover from this Olsen-and-San-Miguel-craze. Well, I think my Dad hasn't recover the same, every time Brgy. Ginebra looses, expect a grumpy dad at home. Like father, like daughter huh?! LOL
Back on the game...
So that's how I get back on the game, It was against Barangay Ginebra that time, battling for the second slot to advance to finals and hopefully bag the win for 2011 PBA Philippines Crown Cup. Never did i doubt that SMB will beat the hell out off the Barangay Ginebra, oohh Yes I'm that confident! Confident that I need to face my grumpy pops each time of this best of three series! LOL
Finals on the roll...
Game One
San Miguel vs Talk and Text
January 22, 2011 at Negros Occidental
91-82 Talk and Text FTW
Unfortunately, SMB failed to match TNT's intensity late in Game 1 but that didn't saddened me even for a bit. What shocked me that day was a tweet from his team mate Don-Don Hontiveros saying that they will give this championship to their captain. This is the last conference for the captain before he retires. 
I informed my friends that we will watch a PBA live game (take note! informed, they HAVE TO come with me with this one :D) my first and last to see the captain playing on the hard court. I have been feeling excited, anxious, nervous, relieved and sad all at once.
Game Two
San Miguel vs Talk and Text
January 26, 2011 at Cuneta Astrodome
Antagonists go for a 2-0 advantage against my lovies as they clash in Game 2. We we're supposed to watch game 2 live, however our number 1 problem is... where the hell is Cuneta Astrodome?! jeez! 10 years in the Metro and i haven't explore the city much, Makati, Sta.Mesa and Boni Edsa are my forte, other than that consider me a child with authism.
So what we did, we called up ticketnet to check on availability on the next game for a court side ticket. I'm willing to empty my pocket for Olsen since it was his last conference however it seems that most of Olsen fanatic got the same idea. Booked out?! Booked out?! Three days before the game, you gotta be kidding ayt?! Unfortunately no, closest spot available was the lower box B. We made reservation for four tickets over the phone and picked up the tickets at SM Makati. So ticketnet works that way, if you don't have CC, you can do reservation over the phone but you'll have to claim and pay for it within 24hours at any nearest SM or ticketnet outlet.
26 years in the making!Finally I will cheer for SMB live in araneta! @dhonts7 @Paul_Artadi16 C u friday! Apir! http://plixi.com/p/72389600
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Then last two minutes of the fourth quarter came, i was comfortable with SMB's lead so i just took photos and concentrate more on my-olsen-staring-thingy for the last minutes of the game.That's why I was shocked to see Sunday bloody face on the court, i dunno what happened, since i was busy! hehehe!
All right so the game ended, friends and I decided to get some evidence photos of this new experience. Hardcourt, exit doors, araneta hall way, PBA tarpaulin/billboard and even the enormous san miguel beer display that seats quietly on one of the corners of Araneta hallway didn't escape to us, the camwhores. Lucky on us that we've bumped into Pido Jarencio, when we're looking for a place for our night recap, and we asked for a souvenir photo.
We ended up at Starbucks just near the Araneta entrance for our night recap. I just couldn't move on, my energy is just so high that I can't stop blabbing about what happened inside. Just as I'm sipping my caramel frappucino (which is by the way my favorite, hehehe!), when my friend goes gaga saying that Olsen is passing behind me. If my friend goes gaga, I went wild! As the captain passed by I didn't waste time, I jump on my seat and run after him. Although embarrassing, I ignored everyone in the area just to have one picture with him! hehehe! Success! apir!
Game 3
San Miguel vs Talk and Text
January 28, 2011 at Araneta Coliseum
103-82 San Miguel FTW
Finally my lovies demolished the TNT to cut their series at 2-1. All the Beermen played good basketball that night, since they know that i'm cheering for them live (choss!) and it's my first time and i'm calling out Olsen name really loud, and.. and.. ooohh did i say it's my first time?! ooohhh bbooyy!
So all those years of waiting finally arrived, it's just sad that it is my first and last. I think it's just the perfect timing, i got to see Olsen Racela tribute speech and got his team mates hyped up all through out the game. Same thing with Danny Ildefonso whom i saw all over the court, scoring, hustling for rebounds, stealing ball and defending the post.
Last 3 or 2 minutes of third quarter I failed to concentrate on the game and took some photos of the captain, he was on the other side of the court, his full attention in the game while his out of the court. Remember the saying, "so near, yet so far" that perfectly describes what i'm feeling then so I just keep myself busy and took several shots and video.
Then last two minutes of the fourth quarter came, i was comfortable with SMB's lead so i just took photos and concentrate more on my-olsen-staring-thingy for the last minutes of the game.That's why I was shocked to see Sunday bloody face on the court, i dunno what happened, since i was busy! hehehe!
All right so the game ended, friends and I decided to get some evidence photos of this new experience. Hardcourt, exit doors, araneta hall way, PBA tarpaulin/billboard and even the enormous san miguel beer display that seats quietly on one of the corners of Araneta hallway didn't escape to us, the camwhores. Lucky on us that we've bumped into Pido Jarencio, when we're looking for a place for our night recap, and we asked for a souvenir photo.
We ended up at Starbucks just near the Araneta entrance for our night recap. I just couldn't move on, my energy is just so high that I can't stop blabbing about what happened inside. Just as I'm sipping my caramel frappucino (which is by the way my favorite, hehehe!), when my friend goes gaga saying that Olsen is passing behind me. If my friend goes gaga, I went wild! As the captain passed by I didn't waste time, I jump on my seat and run after him. Although embarrassing, I ignored everyone in the area just to have one picture with him! hehehe! Success! apir!
Game 4
San Miguel vs Talk and Text
January 30, 2011 at Araneta Coliseum
91-87 San Miguel FTW
Veterans stepped up on this game, Danny Ildefonso and Olsen Racela provided the needed steadiness for the team with their clutch basket and hussle plays on the fourth quarter. That night Jay Washington also bag the tittle as the conference best player. This game ties the series 2-2! Yaaay!
Game 5
San Miguel vs Talk and Text
February 02, 2011 at Araneta Coliseum
Sadly as they say, the old school magic disappeared in Game 5. TNT now leads the series 3-2. But still i crossed my finger hoping for a good ending for Olsen's career.
Game 6
San Miguel vs Talk and Text
Here's the part where I died, choss! I was dead heart broken when TNT took the crown in Game 6. And that's it for Rodericko Cesar Escueta "Olsen" Racela's PBA career, curtain closed. It was indeed 18 good years for Olsen Racela in PBA, now he plays 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.
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!!!
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