Kevin Racal

Racal first studied at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and suited up for the PLMun Marshalls in the UCLAA.{{ cite news |title=St. Francis grabs lead in UCLAA |url=http://www.philstar.com/sports/418919/st-francis-grabs-lead-uclaa |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=November 28, 2008 |accessdate=August 28, 2015 }} In 2010, he led the Muntinlupa cagers to win the inaugural Coca-Cola Hoopla title by scoring 41 points and was awarded MVP of the tournament.{{ cite news |title=Muntinlupa upstages Pasig anew, captures Hoopla crown |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/193354/sports/muntinlupa-upstages-pasig-anew-captures-hoopla-crown |publisher=GMA News and Public Affairs |date=June 13, 2010 |accessdate=August 28, 2015 }} His stint at the Coca-Cola Hoopla was a way for him to be discovered and subsequently recruited to continue his studies at Colegio de San Juan de Letran and play for the Letran Knights.

In his rookie season in 2011, he was a noted slasher, averaging 6.8 points per game.{{Cite web |date= |title=Kevin Racal Player Profile :: PBA-Online! |url=http://www.pba-online.net:80/basketball/ncaa/profile/Kevin-Racal/45/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151127042749/http://www.pba-online.net:80/basketball/ncaa/profile/Kevin-Racal/45/ |archive-date=November 27, 2015 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=pba-online.net}} His best performance of his rookie season came in a win over the San Sebastian Stags, in which he contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists.{{Cite web |date=July 15, 2011 |title=Letran Knights vs Arellano Chiefs |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2011/07/15/706123/letran-knights-vs-arellano-chiefs |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Philstar.com}} He also gained a reputation as a rugged, hard-nosed defender, as shown during their Final Four match against San Sebastian (in which he nearly had a triple-double with 10 points, 14 rebounds and seven assists) and the finals series against the San Beda Red Lions in 2012.{{Cite web |last=Flores |first=Celest R. |date=October 13, 2012 |title=Alas scatters 43 points as Letran forces do-or-die against San Sebastian |url=https://sports.inquirer.net/66226/alas-scatters-43-points-as-letran-forces-do-or-die-against-san-sebastian |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}{{cite news |title=NCAA Season 88 Finals: Throwdown |url=http://www.gameface.ph/entry.php?82-NCAA-Season-88-Finals-Throwdown |publisher=GameFace.ph |date=October 17, 2012 |accessdate=August 28, 2015 }} However, in Game 3 of that finals series, he shot only 1-of-9 from the field, and San Beda won the championship.{{Cite web |last=Fopalan |first=Renee Avena |title=Gallant in defeat - the Letran Knights and a possible future without aces {{!}} NCAA Philippines |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/ncaa/sports/content/279878/gallant-in-defeat-the-letran-knights-and-a-possible-future-without-aces/story/ |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=www.gmanetwork.com |language=en}}

Upon the graduation of Kevin Alas, Racal and playmaker Mark Cruz took over the scoring reins for the team and powered the Knights to a finals rematch against the Red Lions in 2013 but still came up short.{{Cite web |date=September 3, 2013 |title=Letran's Racal named NCAA Player of the Week |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2013/09/03/1167991/letrans-racal-named-ncaa-player-week |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Philstar.com}}{{cite news |last1=Villar |first1=Joey |title=Lions roar to four-peat, best Knights |url=http://www.philstar.com/ncaaseason89/articles/2013/11/16/1257466/lions-roar-four-peat-best-knights |publisher=The Philippine Star |date=November 16, 2013 |accessdate=August 28, 2015 }} On September 23, 2014, he suffered an ACL injury and was ruled out for the rest of the season while his team was eliminated from the Final Four contention.{{cite web|last1=Sacamos|first1=Karlo|title=Arellano Chiefs eliminate Letran Knights and secure playoff for a Final Four berth (September 24, 2014)|url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/news/arellano-eliminates-letran-chiefs-playoff-ncaa-final-four-agovida|publisher=SPIN.ph|accessdate=28 August 2015}}

He returned to action for the 91st season as the Knights went for the title in his last playing year.{{cite web|title=Pressure on for new coach Aldin Ayo, comebacking Kevin Racal as Knights look to bounce back after dismal season|url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/ncaa/news/ncaa-season-91-letran-knights-aldin-ayo-louie-alas-kevin-racal|publisher=SPIN.ph|accessdate=28 August 2015}} In a win over San Beda, he scored eight of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to get into a tie for the first seed with the Perpetual Altas.{{Cite web |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=July 16, 2015 |title=Letran Knights stun San Beda Red Lions to gain share of lead in NCAA Season 91 |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-women/rey-nambatac-letran-beat-san-beda-mark-cruz-kevin-racal-ncaa-basketball |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} He then scored 24 points in a win over the Arellano Chiefs as they swept the first round.{{Cite web |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=July 31, 2015 |title=Letran Knights stay on course for first-round sweep after turning back Chiefs |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-women/letran-remains-unbeaten-after-a-win-over-arellano |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} That season, he was playing out of position as a power forward when he would normally be playing the wing positions.{{Cite web |last=Villar |first=Joey |date=August 2, 2015 |title=Racal big factor in Knights' rise |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/08/02/1483976/racal-big-factor-knights-rise |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Philstar.com}} They successfully got back into the Final Four with a twice-to-beat advantage.{{Cite web |last=Villar |first=Joey |date=October 10, 2015 |title=Knights all pumped up with F4 entry |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/10/10/1509484/knights-all-pumped-f4-entry |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Philstar.com}} From there, they got back into the finals where in Game 1, he scored a career-high 28 points to lead the team to the win.{{Cite web |last=Almo |first=Alder |date=October 23, 2015 |title=Knight in shining armor: Racal lifts Letran past San Beda in Game 1 |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/10/23/1513988/knight-shining-armor-racal-lifts-letran-past-san-beda-game-1 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Philstar.com}} His team successfully dethroned the Red Lions in Game 3 to win the NCAA Championship, which Letran last won in 2005.{{cite news |last1=Terrado |first1=Reuben |title=tran Knights win Game Three in overtime, end San Beda dynasty in NCAA |url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/ncaa/news/letran-san-beda-red-lions-knights-game-three-result-ncaa-finals-moa-arena |publisher=Spin.ph |date=October 29, 2015 |accessdate=October 29, 2015}} In that game, he finished with 23 points, five rebounds and two assists.{{Cite web |last=Terrado |first=Reuben |date=October 29, 2015 |title=Kevin Racal moves to PBA with sense of fulfillment after ending run of Letran heartaches |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/uaap-women/kevin-racal-letran-san-beda-finals-championship-basketball-ncaa-season-91 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} However, a day after he won the championship, he made racist online comments about a San Beda player. He deleted the comments and apologized on Facebook.{{Cite web |last=Almo |first=Alder |date=October 30, 2015 |title=Racal issues public apology for racist remarks on Adeogun |url=https://www.philstar.com/sports/2015/10/30/1516911/racal-issues-public-apology-racist-remarks-adeogun |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Philstar.com}} For his performance that season, he won the Pivotal Player of the Year award together with FEU's Roger Pogoy in the 2016 Collegiate Basketball Awards organized by UAAP-NCAA Press Corps.{{cite web|url=http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/01/03/pogoy-racal-feted-collegiate-finals-heroics-7532|title=Pogoy, Racal to be feted for collegiate finals heroics|publisher=ABS-CBN Sports|date=3 January 2016|accessdate=3 January 2016}}

On August 23, 2015, Racal was drafted 11th overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2015 PBA draft.{{cite web|title=Moala Tautuaa goes first overall in 2015 PBA Draft|url=http://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/basketball/pba/103474-moala-tautuaa-2015-pba-draft-results-list|website=Rappler.com|date=23 August 2015 |accessdate=August 23, 2015}} On October 30, 2015, a day after he won a championship for Letran, he signed a two-year multi-million contract to play for the Aces.{{cite web|last1=Ramos|first1=Gerry|title=Alaska wastes no time, signs Letran hero Kevin Racal to two-year rookie deal|url=http://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/news/alaska-wastes-no-time-after-promptly-signing-letran-ncaa-ch|publisher=SPIN.ph|accessdate=30 October 2015}} He played few minutes in the beginning of the season until he suddenly got inserted into the starting lineup for Game 4 of the 2016 Commissioner's Cup Finals against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters as a replacement for the injured Ping Exciminiano.{{Cite web |last=Sacamos |first=Karlo |date=May 14, 2016 |title=Surprise Alaska starter Kevin Racal hopes to keep repaying trust of coach Compton |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/first-time-starter-kevin-racal-hopes-to-keep-repayingtrust-of-coach-alex-compton |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} In that game, he contributed seven points, three rebounds, two assists and three turnovers while defending Paul Lee as Alaska got its first win of the series. In Game 6, he scored 15 points, but Alaska lost and Rain or Shine won the championship.{{Cite web |last=Gonzales |first=J. C. |date=May 18, 2016 |title=Rain or Shine wins second PBA championship |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/rain-or-shine-wins-second-pba-championship/57107 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}

In a 2016–17 Philippine Cup loss to the TNT KaTropa, Racal scored 14 points.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Matthew |date=December 23, 2016 |title=TNT torches Alaska for share of second |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pba-season-42-philippine-cup-tnt-katropa-torches-alaska-aces-for-share-of-second/74068 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} In a win over the Phoenix Fuel Masters, he scored a PBA career-high 20 points along with six rebounds in 37 minutes as he stepped up for the injured Calvin Abueva.{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Matthew |date=January 27, 2017 |title=Racal steps up for Abueva, notches career-high |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/kevin-racal-steps-up-for-abueva-notches-career-high/75709 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} That season, he struggled with his shooting, as he often had bad shooting nights.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=January 10, 2018 |title=Scrutinized Kevin Racal finally breaks out of slump |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/scrutinized-kevin-racal-finally-breaks-slump/105456 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} Also, the Aces failed to make the playoffs of two conferences and also lost 14 straight games.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=September 28, 2017 |title=Alaska signs Kevin Racal, Ping Exciminiano, Yutien Andrada, JP Mendoza to new deals |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/alaska-signs-kevin-racal-ping-exciminiano-yutien-andrada-jp-mendoza-to-new-deals |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} At the end of the season, he was given a two-year contract.

In a 2017–18 Philippine Cup win over the Meralco Bolts, Racal made two clutch three-pointers as the Aces won their first game of the season. From there, they won three more games including one over the Blackwater Elite in which he contributed 14 points with two made triples and four rebounds.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=January 27, 2018 |title=Calvin Abueva-less Alaska holds off Blackwater for 4th straight win |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/2018-pba-philippine-cup-calvin-abueva-less-alaska-holds-off-blackwater-4th-straight-win/106993 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} They got into the playoffs thanks to a win over the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in which he had 13 points and a clutch free throw made with three seconds remaining.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=February 23, 2018 |title=JVee Casio's triple-double lifts Alaska past Rain or Shine |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/2018-pba-philippine-cup-jvee-casios-triple-double-lifts-alaska-past-rain-shine/109997 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} In the quarterfinals, they lost twice to the NLEX Road Warriors, and were eliminated.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=March 7, 2018 |title=NLEX continues to be Alaska's roadblock, books first-ever trip to the semifinals |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/2018-pba-philippine-cup-nlex-continues-to-be-alaskas-bane-books-first-ever-trip-to-the-semifinals/111207 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} In the 2018 Governors' Cup, the Aces made it to the Finals by beating Meralco in the semifinals.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=November 17, 2018 |title=Alaska finishes off Meralco, books Finals meet-up with Magnolia |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/2018-pba-governors-cup-alaska-finishes-off-meralco-books-finals-meet-up-with-magnolia/134767 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} There, they lost to the Magnolia Hotshots in six games.{{Cite web |last=Ballesteros |first=Jan |date=December 19, 2018 |title=Hotshots claim Governors' Cup crown with Game 6 win |url=https://www.espn.ph/basketball/pba/story/_/id/25571568/magnolia-wins-governors-cup-title-game-6-rout-aces |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}

Throughout the 2019 season, Racal suffered from back injuries.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=2019-03-20 |title=Jvee Casio, Kevin Racal return sparks Alaska's playoff hopes |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/jvee-casio-kevin-racal-return-sparks-alaskas-playoff-hopes/144209 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=October 4, 2019 |title=Cariaso believes Alaska will make the playoffs |url=https://pba.ph/news/cariaso-believes-alaska-will-make-the-playoffs |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=pba.ph |language=en}} He was able to play in the Governors' Cup, helping them gain the seventh seed after starting the conference with five straight losses.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=November 20, 2019 |title=Alaska zooms past NLEX, completes quarterfinal cast |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/alaska-zooms-past-nlex-completes-quarterfinal-cast/170771 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} He signed another two-year deal with them at the end of their season.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=December 17, 2019 |title=Alaska keeps Racal on two-year contact, signs rookie Marcelino |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/kevin-racal-stays-with-alaska-after-signing-new-two-year-deal-a793-20191217 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}

In the opening game of the Aces' 2020 season, Racal hurt his knee.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=October 14, 2020 |title=Alaska hoping to get Ahanmisi, Racal back before it's too late |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/alaska-hopes-to-get-racal-ahanmisi-back-before-its-too-late-for-aces-a793-20201014 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}} A day later, it was confirmed that he had torn his ACL and would not be able to play for the rest of the season.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=October 15, 2020 |title=Kevin Racal suffers torn right ACL in PBA Bubble |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/kevin-racal-suffers-torn-right-acl-pba-bubble/191838 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} He made his return in the 2021 Governors' Cup.{{Cite web |last=Ramos |first=Gerry |date=November 16, 2021 |title=Fit-again Kevin Racal ready to rejoin Alaska after Gab Banal departure |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/fit-again-kevin-racal-ready-to-rejoin-aces-for-governors-cup-a793-20211116 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Spin.ph |language=en}}

On April 27, 2022, Racal signed a one-year deal with the Converge FiberXers, the new team that took over the defunct Alaska Aces franchise.{{cite news |first=Gerry |last=Ramos |date=April 27, 2022 |title=Bulanadi, Racal signed to new contracts by Converge |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/bulanadi-racal-signed-to-new-contracts-by-converge-a793-20220427 |work=Spin.ph |accessdate=May 23, 2022}} In a Philippine Cup loss to TNT, he scored 15 points.{{Cite web |last=Bacnis |first=Justine |date=June 12, 2022 |title=PBA: Castro, TNT find better endgame connection vs Converge in first-ever meeting |url=https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pba-castro-tnt-find-better-endgame-connection-vs-converge-in-first-ever-meeting/242444 |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=Tiebreaker Times |language=en-US}} On April 18, 2023, he signed a two-year contract extension with the team.{{cite news |first=Gerry |last=Ramos |date=April 18, 2022 |title=Converge signs big man Kevin Racal to new two-year deal |url=https://www.spin.ph/basketball/pba/kevin-racal-signs-new-two-year-deal-with-converge-a793-20230418 |work=Spin.ph |accessdate=May 16, 2023}}

{{PBA player statistics legend}}

As of the end of 2023–24 season{{Cite web |title=Kevin Racal Player Profile, Converge Fiber Xers - RealGM |url=https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Kevin-Racal/Summary/102051 |website=basketball.realgm.com}}

{{PBA player statistics start}}

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2015}}

| align=left | Alaska

| 26 || 17.9 || .462 || .324 || .692 || 1.7 || .9 || .4 || .1 || 3.9

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2016}}

| align=left | Alaska

| 35 || 26.1 || .352 || .292 || .750 || 3.0 || 1.3 || .7 || .3 || 5.7

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2017}}

| align=left | Alaska

| 51 || 23.6 || .401 || .370 || .735 || 3.0 || 1.6 || .9 || .1 || 5.8

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2019}}

| align=left | Alaska

| 25 || 21.4 || .443 || .412 || .815 || 2.6 || 1.3 || .8 || .3 || 4.8

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2020}}

| align=left | Alaska

| 1 || 13.3 || .750 || 1.000 || {{sort|-|—}} || 2.0 || 1.0 || 1.0 || {{sort|-|—}} || 8.0

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2021}}

| align=left | Alaska

| 13 || 13.0 || .400 || .333 || .000 || 1.0 || .8 || .5 || .1 || 2.3

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2022}}

| align=left | Converge

| 35 || 17.0 || .351 || .321 || .920 || 1.9 || .9 || .5 || .2 || 4.1

|-

| align=left | {{pbay|2023}}

| align=left | Converge

| 8 || 21.1 || .400 || .263 || .700 || 3.4 || 1.0 || .3 || {{sort|-|—}} || 5.0

|-class=sortbottom

| colspan="2" align="center" | Career

| 194 || 21.0 || .394 || .343 || .757 || 2.5 || 1.2 || .6 || .2 || 4.9

{{End}}

In 2020, Racal married his long-time partner, Sarah Ramirez.{{Cite web |date=January 11, 2020 |title=LOOK: Kevin Racal and Sarah Ramirez tie the knot this 2020 {{!}} Fastbreak |url=https://fastbreak.com.ph/look-kevin-racal-and-sarah-ramirez-tie-the-knot-this-2020/hoop-snoop/ |access-date=October 20, 2023 |language=en-US}} They currently have two daughters.{{Cite web |last=Ballesteros |first=Jan |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Kevin Racal builds his dream home with a few demands |url=https://onesports.ph/pba/article/11288/kevin-racal-builds-his-dream-home-with-a-few-demands |access-date=October 20, 2023 |website=onesports.ph |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

{{Converge FiberXers current roster}}

{{navboxes|list=

{{Letran Knights 2015-2016 NCAA Men's Senior Basketball Champions}}

{{2015 PBA draft}}

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Racal, Kevin}}

Category:1991 births

Category:Living people

Category:Alaska Aces (PBA) players

Category:Basketball players from Metro Manila

Category:Filipino men's basketball players

Category:Letran Knights basketball players

Category:Sportspeople from Mandaluyong

Category:Small forwards

Category:Alaska Aces (PBA) draft picks

Category:Converge FiberXers players

Category:21st-century Filipino sportsmen