NO SHORTCUT TO A CHAMPIONSHIP
Saying coach Norman Black’s first conference with Meralco was a roller coaster ride can be considered as an understatement.
And he’ll be the first to admit that to you.
“There’s a lot of ups and downs, good moments and bad moments,” he said. “We’re hoping it’s a learning process and we continue to improve as the year goes on.”
Considering that Black boasts a decorated career with a collection of championships in elite leagues of every level, it’s understandable that there’ll be some disappointment for not making the Final 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup.
“I’m used to a lot of success so I can’t be happy with sixth place, but it’s an improvement on what’s happened in the past. At the same time, it’s not good enough for me. We just have to continue to work hard and try to develop the players you have until you improve the team,” Black said.
The Grand Slam-winning coach added, “I’ll never be happy with sixth place. Whether it be my frontline or backline, we need improvement.”
“We need to improve if we want to win a championship. If we want to be mediocre, then we’re fine, but I don’t want to be mediocre. I want to have championship team. It may take time, and it’s not gonna happen overnight. You don’t jump next to last to first place in one conference. It doesn’t happen that way. It’s a process, so we just have to continue to improve every conference, and hopefully one day, get there.”
As the Bolts made their exit, Black and his coaching staff now shift their attention to the Commissioner’s Cup.
“The next step is trying to recruit a good import to support our players and be better in the second and third conference,” Black explained.
Though he still hasn’t figured out who they will enlist for the second conference, Black is hoping that they can stumble upon a do-it-all reinforcement.
“Somebody like a Bobby Ray Parks, hopefully. He can do everything, that’s what we need,” he said. “Just look at our team and you can figure that one out. We need a very good player.” (RL)
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