Adamson coach Nash Racela wants consistency from players (Sabong News)
Author
Carlo Anolin
Date
MARCH 29 2022
Adamson coach Nash Racela is looking for consistency from his wards after absorbing a 71-69 loss to De La Salle in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 84 men’s basketball tournament opener at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City Saturday, March 26.
Gracious in defeat, Racela took the loss as a learning experience not only for himself but most importantly for his wards.
“My hope as a coach is that moving forward, since they see now the mistakes and they experienced it, moving forward they could really correct the things that we’ve been emphasizing,” said Racela.
No pressure of some sort is coming from the new Adamson tactician but emphasized that he needed the consistent plays coming from veteran guard Jerom Lastimosa, who is now considered as the go-to guy of the Soaring Falcons.
“I think one learning [is that] Jerom Lastimosa has to take, that he cannot just commit useless fouls because we need him naman as well,” said Racela. “Kung baga, sa PBA noon ‘di ba (For example in the PBA), if you’re an import then you should know when to use your fouls. Kailangan maging smart ka (You need to be smart about it) and that’s something he’s learning now.
“It’s not like 2018 and 2019 when he was the second or the third guard of the team. Right now, he’s the main player so kailangan matutunan niya ‘yon,” he added.
Lastimosa fired 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting to go with two rebounds and two assists but sustained four fouls, something that later hurt Adamson’s momentum after the spitfire guard led the Falcons to get their first lead, 57-56, early in the payoff period.
Racela also has the same sentiment for Joem Sabandal, who added 11 points four rebounds, two assists, and one steal for Adamson.
“There were moments that he was shining but what we’re actually looking for is consistency,” said the former PBA coach. “You can’t just have your moments during the game. If you’ve given me stability then that’s the kind of moment that we want from them.”
Aside from Lastimosa and Sabandal, Ahmad Hanapi led all scorers with 20 points on top of five rebounds and a perfect six-of-six shooting in the perimeter while big man Lenda Douanga had a double-double performance of 11 points and 13 rebounds to go with five blocks.
