BLACK BRINGS WINNING WAYS FROM UAAP TO PBA
Coach Norman Black has never had a breather from his triumphant exit from the UAAP to his return to the pro league. No complaints though as he enjoys the ride.
After steering the Ateneo Blue Eagles to a five-peat feat, Black is on track to giving the Talk n Text Tropang Texters a record third straight championship in the PBA Philippine Cup.
“It has been a whirlwind for me that I didn’t have time to savor the victory of the UAAP,” said Black.
“I’m just fortunate to have these guys. My players made my adjustment (from the amateurs back to the pros) a lot easier. And yes, it feels good to be back in the (PBA) championship,” Black also said.
Of course, Black would feel a lot better making it all the way to the top versus Rain or Shine.
“It’s going to be difficult because they’re very physical and they do things that we also love to do. In the end, someone has to give,” said Black.
Black is confident he’s got a team that knows how to win. And needless to say, Black himself knows how to win.
The 10-time PBA champion coach is hopeful of winning but doesn’t expect to get it easy.
“I don’t care how the series goes. All we want is to win four games. If it goes four games, it goes four games. If it goes seven, it goes seven,” he said.
Having been away in the PBA for quite sometime, Black is still trying to again accustom himself to long series.
“The biggest difference going from the UAAP to the PBA is probably the seven-game series. In the UAAP, it’s just a best-of-three. You throw that first punch and you pretty much knocked out the other team,” Black said.
“Here (in the PBA), you throw the first punch, there’s no guarantee. When you win the first game, just like in the Alaska-TnT semis series, there will be adjustments made over the course of the series. You have to re-adjust, read the adjustments, etcetera etcetra,” he added.
But then again, Black is confident he’s got a good team at his disposal.
“I have very good players. I consider myself a good coach but I’m not going to win basketball games without talented players who are willing to work hard and are dedicated to winning,” he said. (SB)
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