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UAAP: Coach Olsen Racela pays tribute to FEU seniors

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/11/27/20181127-uaap-tribute.jpg"/><figcaption>The FEU seniors sing their school hymn after their loss to Ateneo in the Final 4. Arvin Lim, <a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/basketball/photos">ABS-CBN Sports</a></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- They may have failed to advance to the UAAP Season 81 finals, but Far Eastern University (FEU) coach Olsen Racela was still the picture of pride as he heaped praise upon the graduating members of his team.The Tamaraws&#x27; roller-coaster season came to a stuttering stop on Sunday, when they were blasted by defending champion Ateneo de Manila University, 80-61, in the Final 4. The final score did not reflect the Blue Eagles&#x27; dominance of the game: they raced out to an 8-0 lead, never trailed, and led by as much as 31 points.But FEU&#x27;s seniors -- RJ Ramirez, Axel Inigo, Jasper Parker, Richard Escoto, and Arvin Tolentino -- fought tooth and nail in the final few minutes to trim down the deficit.&quot;It took a while bago kami naka-bwelo,&quot; Racela said after the game. &quot;And it&#x27;s not surprising na itong lima &#x27;yung andoon sa loob, mga seniors ko, noong naka-bwelo kami.&quot;&quot;And I think these five players just showed to the team kung ano dapat ang gagawin ng team namin. Paalis na sila, may iniwan pa silang kapupulutan ng mga naiwan nila eh,&quot; he added.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://sports.abs-cbn.com/uaap/news/2018/11/26/arvin-tolentino-pens-emotional-letter-feu-admu-uaap-50329">READ: Arvin Tolentino pens emotional letter for FEU, ADMU, UAAP</a></li></ul>The five players are set to go their separate ways after this season, with Ramirez, Parker, and Escoto eyeing the PBA D-League or the MPBL. Inigo said he intends to focus on his academics for a while as he looks for a team, while Tolentino is undecided although he has the option of going pro as well.Before they left, however, Racela paid tribute to the seniors who steered FEU to the Final 4, even after they very nearly fell apart midway through the elimination round.&quot;Si JR (Parker) is one of the quickest guards that we have in the UAAP, and we&#x27;re very fortunate to have him. Si RJ provides so much energy sa aming team, and he&#x27;s very skilled,&quot; said Racela. &quot;It just so happened na marami kaming guards, that&#x27;s why hindi siya nabibigyan ng playing time.&quot;&quot;But I appreciate his patience,&quot; he added.Racela hailed Inigo for his basketball IQ, and predicted that the heady guard will one day become a coach. Escoto, meanwhile, was praised for his intensity and ability to play bigger than his size.&quot;Hindi mo matatawaran ang puso nito,&quot; Racela said of Escoto, a homegrown star who played for FEU for 8 years from high school to college. &quot;He&#x27;s undersized, but he makes up for it with his hard work and his fighting heart.&quot;Tolentino had made a very emotional exit from FEU. A former Ateneo Blue Eagle, he transferred to the Morayta-based squad ahead of the 79th season, and became a hero among the Tamaraw faithful when he drained the game-winning triple against De La Salle University that lifted them to the Final 4 of Season 81.&quot;Si Arvin is one of the skilled big men that we have in the country, not just in the UAAP,&quot; Racela said of his sweet-shooting forward. &quot;Any team who will pick them up will be very fortunate to have them doon sa next level,&quot; he added. &quot;I just want these guys to know that we appreciate them and their service to the school.&quot;Racela knows that replacing the five Tamaraws will be a tall task for them. Moreover, they have yet to confirm if big man Prince Orizu will return for his final playing season next year.&quot;Malaki-laking trabaho para sa akin,&quot; said Racela. &quot;So maagang practice siguro, para mapunan &#x27;yung mawawala dito sa limang ito.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

They may have failed to advance to the UAAP Season 81 finals, but Far Eastern University (FEU) coach Olsen Racela was still the picture of pride as he heaped praise upon the graduating members of his team.

They may have failed to advance to the UAAP Season 81 finals, but Far Eastern University (FEU) coach Olsen Racela was still the picture of pride as he heaped praise upon the graduating members of his team.

UAAP: Coach Olsen Racela pays tribute to FEU seniors

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UAAP: Coach Olsen Racela pays tribute to FEU seniors

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Nov 27, 2018 08:12 PM PHT

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UAAP

basketball

Olsen Racela

FEU Tamaraws

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