Advertisement

Black leaves behind solid hoops program

For the fifth and last time, Norman Black sat down in front of the media and talked about the UAAP championship he had just won.

Knowing this was a scene that will not be repeated next year, many of the questions asked of the amiable coach revolved around his legacy and what he had achieved in his eight-year coaching stint, during which time he transformed Ateneo into a collegiate basketball powerhouse and turned the university’s basketball program into the envy of others and the destination of choice for top high school prospects.

But before talking about his legacy, the multi-titled coach decided to thank all those responsible for his successful run, giving special mention to Manny V. Pangilinan, the business mogul who brought him in as coach and who abruptly cut ties with the school last month, and Paolo Trillo, the Ateneo team manager who was beside Black throughout his eight-season tour of duty.

Then he proceeded to answer this question posed to him: aside from the five championships, how would you like to be remembered in Ateneo?

“I’d like to be remembered for helping lay down the foundation for the Ateneo basketball program, me and Paolo Trillo,” was his answer.

Black took over in 2005 and, with the backing of Pangilinan and the school, immediately worked on putting up a good recruitment system and, eventually, basketball program. “We went out and looked for good recruits, not only good players but those who could withstand the rigors of an Ateneo education. We scoured the countryside looking for players who could fit into our system.”

Among Black’s most notable recruits include Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva, and Kiefer Ravena. But more importantly, he also developed lesser known players like Nonoy Baclao, Emman Monfort, Justin Chua, Bacon Austria, Mike Baldos, Juami Tiongson and Yuri Escueta, all of whom became major contributors to the Eagles’ five-year run.

Black is set to take over the coaching chores at Talk ‘N Text, but even though the Texters have a game the day after the Blue Eagles beat the UST Growling Tigers, 65-62, to bag their fifth straight crown, the 54-year-old will sit by the sidelines and let Nash Racela coach one more time.

It’s probably his reward to himself for the eight years he served the gods of Loyola, during which time he compiled a win-loss record of 110-26, or an 80% winning percentage.

It wasn’t smooth at first, though. The Blue Eagles lost in the Final Four to La Salle in Black’s very first season, then lost in the finals the following year to UST. In 2007, the Blue Eagles were in a good position to finish second and clinch a twice-to-beat advantage and needed only to beat lowly National University. But they squandered a double-digit lead and fell to the Bulldogs in overtime, triggering a tailspin that saw them lose to La Salle in a playoff for the second seed and eventually bow again to the Archers in their Final Four clash.

By 2008, his fourth season, Black knew he had to finally break through and win it all or risk losing his job. And the Blue Eagles finally delivered on their promise, trouncing the Archers in a two-game finals sweep to bag the first of their five crowns.

Ateneo’s finals record under Black’s watch speaks for itself. The Eagles went 10-1 in five championship series, their only loss coming in Game 2 of the finals against UE. Four different teams have tried to knock the Eagles off their perch – La Salle in 2008, UE in 2009, FEU in 2010 and 2011, and finally UST this year – and each time Black and the Eagles have emerged victorious.

Yet even as Black leaves Loyola to make his return to the PBA, he does so with the knowledge that his legacy is intact, and the program he painstakingly helped put together can continue to thrive without him.

“That’s the beauty of what we did,” he said. “Even when I leave, whoever coach will take over has a solid program in his hands.”

Not only that, but whoever the new coach will be – Bo Perasol  was previously a lock on the job until Pangilinan withdrew support – he will have the unenviable task of trying to match Black’s accomplishments, as well as live up to huge expectations.

More College Hoops:

Blue Eagles nip Tigers, 65-62, win fifth straight title