Black among rookies in PBA bubble

MANILA, Philippines — The Meralco Bolts will usher in the father-son tandem of coach Norman Black and rookie Aaron in the coming PBA bubble in Clark.

The young Black, whom the 11-time champion mentor picked 18th overall in the 2019 draft, sets out to help his dad and holdovers led by Chris Newsome, Baser Amer and the fit-again Raymond Almazan chase glory in the Philippine Cup restart.

“Aaron Black will be with us in the bubble,” Meralco team manager Paolo Trillo told The STAR.

The Blacks will be the first father and son to join forces since Ato Agustin coached Marc Agustin with Petron in the 2012 Commissioner’s Cup. They joined legend Robert Jaworski and Dudut of the 1990s Ginebra in this company.

“We’re all excited to leave for the bubble on Monday,” said the elder Black, who had actually also coached stepson Chris Tan over at Sta. Lucia in 2001.

Meanwhile, the Bolts welcome back top center Almazan, who was sidelined by a lateral meniscal tear during the original schedule of the All-Filipino last March.

“He’s just finishing off (his) last days of full therapy and then he will join us,” said Trillo of the 6-foot-8 slotman who sustained the injury in the 2019 Governors’ Cup finals.

Meralco’s pre-season signing, big man Noy Baclao, won’t make it to the bubble contingent. Baclao, whom the Bolts signed from free agency last April, needs more time to fully recover after getting hit by a ruptured patellar tendon while still with the Alaska Aces last season.