Nash Racela is taking over the coaching chores at Blackwater Elite.
Following a finish at dead last in the 2019 Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup, the Elite acted immediately in hopes of changing its fortunes next season by hiring Racela, a former mentor at TNT.
Racela signed a two-year deal to lead Blackwater in its quest for prominence.
In the process, the former Far Eastern University coach will be reunited with his former college stars Mac Belo, Mike Tolomia and Carl Bryan Cruz, who are all expected to get some push with him at the helm.
Racela, along with those three players, helped FEU win the 2015 UAAP championship.
Blackwater will be starting from scratch after again trading away their best players in Ray Parks, Raymar Jose, Mike DiGregorio, and Allein Maliksi just a month ago. The team will try to again rebuild its squad.
Racela will take over the spot of interim coach Aris Dimaunahan, who has handled the team for most of the season.
In his last stint with TNT, Racela was able to take the Texters to a finals appearance in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup before leaving a year later in 2018.
Born November 30, 1971 Racela is a graduate of De La Salle University. He pursued a career in coach early unlike older brother Olsen who had a lengthy career as a professional basketball player. He also coached the Philippine squad that participated at the 2016 SEABA Cup.