Norman’s new role

As the Ateneo Blue Eagles consultant, Norman Black is experiencing something new in his colorful basketball career.

Black, 47, played briefly for the Detroit Pistons in the National Basketball Association then saw action in 10 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) seasons before concentrating on a coaching career that brought him to San Miguel Beer, Mobiline, Pop Cola and Sta. Lucia Realty.

Believe it or not, Black averaged 40.2 points during his PBA tenure. Scoring in the 40s–as an import or local–is a rarity in the new millennium but when Black was at his peak, he was unstoppable from his Tefilin debut in 1981 to his final game in a Pop Cola cameo appearance in 1998.

Today, Black keeps busy running his popular basketball camps, appearing on TV as a PBA analyst and working with Ateneo coach Sandy Arrespacochaga. There are other things that occupy Black’s time, like checking on his Kitaro restaurant in Makati and staying in contact with the Toronto Raptors with whom he is affiliated as an international scout.

It’s likely Black will be tapped to assist in the national team that the PBA is forming for the FIBA (International Basketball Association)-Asia men’s championships in Doha next year. PBA Commissioner Noli Eala said the next national coach could learn a lot from Black’s experience at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games.

At the moment, Black is heavily involved in the Ateneo program and he’s enjoying it.

"The pressure in the collegiate level is different from the pressure in the pro level," he explained. "In the pros, you don’t get too much time to work on the players’ individual skills because you’re always concentrating on preparing for the next game. In college, you get the chance to teach. If ever I get back to coaching, I’d like to make sure I do something about improving the players individually."

Black said he stays in the background when Ateneo plays in the UAAP or the PBL or wherever.

"I go to all the games but I just watch from the stands," he said. "I’m usually somewhere behind the bench or wherever I can get a seat because you know how difficult it is to get tickets for an Ateneo game."

Black said after coaching for years, it’s a different feeling being a consultant. In 1989, Black coached San Miguel Beer to a grand slam. He has captured 10 PBA titles as a coach, third in the all-time standings behind Baby Dalupan and Tim Cone.

"It’s Sandy show," he said. "I come into the picture before and after a game and during halftime when I share my thoughts with the coaching staff. I’m there to help. I’m not there to coach. I don’t dominate the situation. Sure, I feel the pressure, too, because we all want to win. Ateneo alumni are very active and I appreciate it because they get involved in a positive way since their only objective is for the team to do well."

Black noted that his alma mater St. Joseph’s College in Pennsylvania is run by Jesuits like the Ateneo so there’s a link to his All-American past.

"At St. Joe’s, the fans are fanatical," said Black. "They show up for every game and take care of the team, win or lose. It’s just like here."

Last October, Black and Arrespacochaga attended a three-day coaching seminar at the Holiday Inn in Cleveland. It was a bonding experience for the coach and his consultant. They got along famously.

"We have a good relationship," said Black. "Sandy’s very young–he’s 29 and still learning the game. He’s developing his own philosophy, taking something from his teachers like Joe (Lipa) and Joel (Banal). He’s putting the best things he can pick up all together and creating his own style. At Ateneo, we’re building a system around our talent. It’s useless to install a system like the North Carolina system, for instance, if you don’t have the talent to execute it. We’ve got seven new players but the team has improved by leaps and bounds."

Black said Arrespacochaga was a defensive player when he suited up for the Ateneo varsity.

"I understand it was Fr. Tito (Caluag) who convinced Sandy to go straight into coaching after finishing his varsity eligibility," continued Black. "Sandy wanted to play in the PBL but Fr. Caluag persuaded him to try coaching instead."

In Cleveland, Black said they learned a lot from several Hall of Fame coaches. John Chaney of Temple spoke about turnovers. North Carolina’s Roy Williams took up the Tar Heels’ offensive plays. Connecticut’s Jim Calhoun expounded on the man-to-man defense, full and half court. Kansas’ Bill Self discussed man-to-man offense. And Rick Majerus, recently named as the University of Southern California coach, explained the nuances of executing and defending the screen-roll play.

Black recounted that after Majerus’ lecture which ended at 9 p.m., they hung around to ask him more about his topic.

"Since we were about 800 people in this giant ballroom and there was no ball, Rick couldn’t demonstrate what he explained," said Black. "So he told me to get 10 guys together. He took off his jacket and rolled it into a ball then passed it around to simulate a game situation. He spent about an hour and a half more after his lecture with us."

The seminar covered such topics as organizing drills for players, recruiting, relationship with players’ parents, how to manage alumni and other common college-related issues.

"Sandy and I felt at par with the guys from North Carolina, Kansas and Connecticut because just like those schools’ basketball programs are rated highly in the US so is Ateneo’s in the Philippines," said Black. "So we could relate to what they were talking about."

Black said working with the Blue Eagles is refreshing.

"The young guys are willing to learn," he went on. "They work hard. They don’t have the big egos of pros. They want to expand their knowledge of the game and we’re there to share with them what we know."

This weekend, Black was closeted in a visioning workshop with Fr. Caluag, team manager Paolo Trillo, Arrespacochaga and assistant coaches Gene Afable and Gabby Severino.

There will be no vacation for Black during the holidays. The Blue Eagles will be practicing on the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day.

"I don’t mind," said Black. "We’ve got games in the PBL and we want to be ready. I’m just happy to be working with the guys."