Ateneo Sports Hall of Famers
Fritz Gaston wrote the Ateneo
Sports Hall of Fame and he mentioned the value and contributions of Olsen
Racela as an integral part of the 1988
Ateneo Blue Eagles and as a result, the ASHOF eventually included him as one of
the 10 Ateneans inducted to the Ateneo Sports Hall of Fame. Racela was originally listed as one of the
athletes who will be given a citation but Gaston’s recommendation made the
difference.
Olsen's Family
Racela together with fellow Ateneo
High School 1987 batch mate Danny Francisco was one of four members of the
1987-1988 Back to Back UAAP champion team that made it this year. The other two
members inducted of that 1988 team were point guard Jun Reyes and power forward
Eric Reyes. That brings to eight the
number of cagers inducted on that team with Nonoy Chuatico, Jet Nieto, Sep
Canlas and Alex Araneta are the four others who were inducted in 2009.
Danny's family
The night was filled with a lot of
legends specially the teams i saw while I was in grade school and the team I
rooted for in college. The core of the
1975 – 1976 powerhouse back to back NCAA champion team was there namely Fritz
Gaston, Joy Carpio, Padim Israel, Chito Narvasa, Maling Estrella and Steve
Watson. The 5-peat Ateneo Blue Eagles were
also there to cheer on the Hall of Famers.
Picture Picture
Other Ateneans feted in the event
were Tony Cuyegkeng, Jun Gonzales, Piquillo Enage, Andy Nanagas, Eddie Apacible
and the only non-Atenean inducted was champion Volleyball Coach Pitong Custodio
who passed away last November 10, 2012. Given citations were Atty Mario “Babes”
Oreta and Frederick “Deck” Go who were instrumental in making the turnaround in
Ateneo Badminton. The event was held at
the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall in the Ateneo were veteran sportscaster
Sev Sarmenta was the Master of Ceremonies.
