INAMIN ni Norman Black na may pinagtutuunan niya ng pansin ang posibilidad na makamit ng Meralco ang unang PBA championship, higit sa katotohanan na madgdagan ang career accomplishment bilang isa sa batikang coach sa bansa.
“Records are great,” pahayag ni Black. “But this is about trying to win for Meralco.”
Sakaling masandigan ang Bolts laban sa Barangay Ginebra San Miguel sa PBA Governors’ Cup best-of-seven Finals, iluloklok si Black bilang unang coach sa kasaysayan ng bansa na gumabay sa apat na magkakaibang koponan sa championship, batay sa datos na inilabas ni PBA head statistician Fidel Mangonon.
Sa kasalukuyan, tangan ni Black ang titulo bilang isa sa pitong coach sa pro league na may PBA championship, kasama sina Tim Cone, Jong Uichico, Chot Reyes at dating Grand Slam winners Baby Dalupan at Tommy Manotoc.
Goodbye PBA? John Amores, tinanggalan na ng professional license!
Nagsimula ang coaching career sa kalagitnaan ng 80s nang kunin siya ni San Miguel Corporation boss Danding Cojuangco na manduhan ang Magnolia.
“That would be great,” pahayag ni Black. “(But) I don’t really think about all those things. This is for me is just winning a championship for Meralco. They’ve had a lot of confidence in me for the last five years.”
Hindi pa nagwawagi ng titulo ang Meralco mulan nang sumabak s aliga noong 2010-11 season. Umusad sila sa championship ngunit nabigo sa Ginebra noong 2016 at 2017.
“I think this is probably the best chance I’m gonna have to win a championship because I really think I have the team that can win it this time,” sambit ni Black.
Pinangugunahan ang Bolts ni import Allen Durham, kasama ang reliable locals sna sina Baser Amer at Chris Newsome.
“This is by far the strongest team I’ve coached since joining Meralco and I thank the management for supplying me with Raymond Almazan and Allein Maliksi and Nards Pinto to improve the talent level of our team to give us a chance to be in this situation.”
Napatanyag si Black nang pamunuan ang San Miguel sa siyam na kampeonato, kabilang makasaysayang Grand Slam noong 1989 na pinagbidahan nina Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim at Hector Calma.
Ginabayan din niya ang Sta. Lucia sa unang PBA crown noong 2001 nang gapiin ng tropa nina import Damien Owens, Dennis Espino, Marlou Aquino, Paolo Mendoza at Black’s stepson Chris Tan ang SMB sa anim na laro.
Ang iba pa niyang titulo ay 2013 Philippine Cup sa koponan ng TNT kontra Rain or Shine tampok sina Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Ryan Reyes at Harvey Carey.
