Back in UAAP Season 84, then-rookie Patrick Sleat and former Far Eastern University mentor Olsen Racela guided the Tamaraws to what would be the program’s last Final Four appearance.
Three years later, fate dealt them a familiar script — but this time, on a different stage.
Reunited at the University of Perpetual Help System DALTA, Sleat and Racela have once again propelled a program into the postseason, leading the Altas to their first Final Four berth since Season 97 in 2022.
For Racela, it’s not just Sleat’s scoring that has powered Perpetual back into the NCAA spotlight. It’s the 24-year-old forward’s maturity and leadership that have truly made the difference.
“Yung last Final Four kasi namin, rookie pa ako noon ‘eh. Sa tingin ko, iba yung mag-Final Four na isa ka sa mga leaders ng team. Masarap sa pakiramdam and ready lang kami lagi kahit sino makalaban namin. We’ll prepare well,” said Sleat, a Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro native.
“Sabi nga niya last time [na nagsama kami sa Final Four] rookie siya, pero ngayon experienced na siya,” Racela said after the Altas’ 81-74 quarterfinal win over the Jose Rizal University Bombers on Thursday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
Sleat’s growth is proving invaluable not only for Perpetual’s championship ambitions but also for the development of teammates Mark Gojo Cruz and the rest of their recruits from the Junior Altas program.
“He sees the floor more, kaya malaking bagay ‘yon sa batang players that are here right now sa Perpetual. Marami kaming rookies ‘eh, so malaking bagay na natututo sila sa kanila,” Racela added.
Still carrying the sting of his lone UAAP Final Four exit at the hands of Ateneo in Season 84, Sleat now steps onto the postseason stage with a familiar mentor and as a stabilizing force for the Altas.
As Perpetual awaits the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Arellano University, Sleat vowed to sharpen the Altas’ teamwork and defense, aiming to finally secure a long-awaited Finals appearance.
“I think we need to work more as a team and focus pa kami sa defense namin kasi I think ‘yon talaga yung nagpapanalo sa amin. Hindi lang individually sa defense, pero as a team,” Sleat said.
