UPDATE: Coach Norman Black To Step Down After Season 75

According to a memo from the Ateneo de Manila University president, Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ

"It is with regret that I inform the community that Coach Norman Black, who we all know has been such an outstanding coach for the Ateneo Blue Eagles these last seven years, has indicated his desire to return to the PBA where he hopes to replicate his successful system. Having been at the PBA before, he is in a way coming full circle with this move."

However, he will have his last run for another championship come Season 75, and will serve for two years as consultant, while a search committee is formed to look for Black's replacement.

With four titles in his seven years of being with the Ateneo community, Coach Black might be headed to a) the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters, or b) the Meralco Bolts, both of which are owned by Ateneo's top sponsor, Manuel V. Pangilinan.

This may be a legitimate reason for Blue Eagle fans to worry, not only because it will affect the playing style of team as a whole, but also it might make a difference during the recruitment phase.But with enough time to prepare for what is to come, the Blue Eagles might as well build a bridge before getting there.

Credits to Inquirer News for the image.

Game Notes: PBA Blue vs. Green Dream Game

Blue Team 104, Green Team 117

-It was a reunion for both sides, but an advantage for one of them. Coach Norman Black, whose Blue Eagles became the UAAP champions from 2008 to 2011, had most of his Blue Team players coming from the 2002 UAAP Blue Eagles, most notably Larry Fonacier, L.A. Tenorio, and Enrico Villanueva. In the Blue Team roster, he only had JC Intal, Eric Salamat, Doug Kramer, and Nonoy Baclao (plus Rabeh Al-Hussaini who could have played as well if not for his injury) to lead the team in executing the system that he uses in the UAAP. Franz Pumaren, on the other hand, had all of his best players in his own fourpeat, from 1998 to 2001, including those who were members of the 2007 championship, like Ryan Arana and Jvee Casio. Judging from that, it seems obvious that Pumaren has the upper hand, as it would only be the same old thing all over again for the Green Team, while the Blue Team would still have to make in-game adjustments in order to work as a team.

-This in turn begs a big question for the fans of DLSU past: Is it a case of Pumaren getting his DLSU players to Air 21, or being reestablished as DLSU's head coach in the coming years if Abanilla would not bring them to the promised land?

-One big advantage that the Green Team had during the game was their sweet shooting from beyond the arc. Mike Cortez, Jvee Casio, Joseph Yeo, and Ryan Arana, had their own share of three-point baskets, while the Blue Team's threes of their own, which could have made a big difference early on, only fell into the hands of Green Team's rebounders. Larry Fonacier, presumably the biggest three point shooter in the team, only made a few, leaving Tenorio and Salamat to carry the burden. Apparently, this, together with a few missed baskets and opportunities, led to a Green Team lead that went as big as 25 in the second half of the game. The Blue Team, on the other hand, only thrived and caught up through big runs of their own, and were not able to fully capitalize and gain the lead as the Green Team made some crucial stops and baskets, especially in the final minutes of the game.

-Despite being a charity game that has no bearing at all except for a statement as well as a chance to break the 80-all tie that ended the first Blue vs. Green dream game a few years ago, there were significant moments that perhaps the recent Ateneo and La Salle crowds wanted to see. Don Allado did a Tim Tebow after a counted basket, at the delight of the green side of the court. Tenorio had alley-oop passes to Japeth Aguilar, Paolo Bugia, and Enrico Villanueva. Arana, despite not doing the "dance" in his college days, also had flashes of brilliance. Aguilar, who left after two years in the UAAP to play in the US NCAA, showed that he has not only a high flyer but also a midrange shooter, which begs another question of what could have happened if he developed under the Norman Black system. And who would forget one of the best players of the UAAP, Captain Hook, Macmac Cardona, who did his signature hook shot over the same guys he fought against back in college? Too bad we did not see the trademark defense of the Blue Eagles which brought them four straight championships, mastered and known by heart by the present Blue Eagles team, or the De La Salle full court press that terrorized not only the Blue Eagles but also other teams in the UAAP.

-Besides the Season 73 first round elimination win of the Green Archers against the Blue Eagles, this has been the only moment where the DLSU crowd has been wild against the AdMU crowd, as this is the only other AdMU-DLSU game where the score favored the green side of the crowd during the final buzzer since 2010. Will this happen again the UAAP? With a new coaching staff and the acquisition of high school stand out Jeron Teng, we could expect a tight competition once again between the Blue and the Green, which perhaps is more significant and more important for both blue and green fans.

The Scores:


Green Team 117 – Allado 23, Cardona 20, Casio 13, Sharma 12, Arana 9, Maierhofer 9, Yeo 9, Ritualo 8, Cortez 8, Aquino 3, Gaco 3.

Blue Team 104 – Tenorio 20, Villanueva 19, Aguilar 16, Fonacier 14, Intal 13, Kramer 7, Salamat 4, Baclao 4, Membrere 3, Alvarez 2, Bugia 2.

Quarter scores: 34-20, 61-48, 94-75, 117-104

Credits to InterakTV for the image and box.