Black will be back for Blue next year, ’til ’09

By Joel Orellana
Business Mirror
October 10, 2007

As far as Ateneo is concerned, Norman Black is still the coach of its men’s basketball team until 2009.

This was related by Blue Eagles team manager Paolo Trillo, shooting down the rumor that Black will be replaced soon by alumnus and former national team mentor Chot Reyes.

“There’s no truth to that rumor. Coach Norman will be the team’s coach up to 2009. I don’t know who’s circulating that false information,” said Trillo yesterday. “As far as Ateneo is concerned, there’s no truth to that.”

When contacted, Black was caught by surprise by the news item, adding that he even looks forward to handling Ateneo in the next basketball season after falling short in this year’s tournament .

“I’m under contract and obligated to coach the Ateneo team until 2009,” said Black in a text message.

There were reports that came out Tuesday that a faction of the school’s alumni is submitting a proposal to the school officials and Ateneo staunch supporter Manny V. Pangilinan, pushing Reyes as head coach of the Blue Eagles.

But Reyes already denied that there’s such move from the school, though he admitted that going back to college would be an ideal job for him.

Reyes played for the Blue Eagles from 1981 to 1985 then mentored his alma mater in the 1990 and ’91 seasons that included Olsen Racela, Eric Reyes and Richie Ticzon.

The multititled PBA coach is currently on-leave from San Miguel Beer after taking on the job as RP-5 head coach.

Black is in his third year with the team and Ateneo’s best finish under the champion professional coach was runner-up last season. This year, Ateneo failed to return to the finals, losing to De La Salle in the stepladder Final Four.

Black admitted the Blue Eagles’ biggest blunder in the season was their final game in the eliminations against National U, a team that had already been eliminated but still defeated Ateneo in a game the Blue Eagles needed to lock the twice-to-beat incentive.

But Trillo said that the school was “satisfied” with Black’s performance.

“We felt that we actually overachieved this year. Coach Norman did a very good job because we’re really a young team and we finished third in the tournament,” said Trillo.

Only Ford Arao and Zion Laterre will not come back for the Blue Eagles next season, and Trillo said that they are looking forward to a better campaign in the coming tournament with Black at the helm.

“We’ll have an intact roster next year plus a couple of high-school standouts. We’re really excited for the next UAAP season,” Trillo added.

Ateneo is in a tug-of-war with De La Salle and National Collegiate Athletic Association champion San Beda College for blue-chip recruit Ryan Buenafe of San Sebastian. The Blue Eagles are also eyeing six-foot-five center Justin Chua from Chiang Kai Shek High School.