Back to Black
Back to Black was the battle cry of coach Norman Black and the Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles during their title retention campaign back in 2009. Eight years later, the UAAP Men’s Basketball crown is once again back with a Black — second-generation cager Aaron, that is.
Prior to Game Three of the Finals last Sunday, coach Norman — who had steered the Blue Eagles to five straight championships — made sure to talk to his son before they headed to the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.
“He told me that it’s the same game, this time we have forty minutes to win the championship,” said Aaron, who turned 21 on the same day as Game Three. “He told me to do what I can do to help the team. It’s not about stats anymore, it’s about doing what you can do to help the team.
“Once you win the championship, everyone becomes a champion.”
Black played 16 minutes in the game, finishing with four points, two rebounds, and three assists.
And after playing in all 19 games this season, the 6-foot-1 guard could not help but be amazed with the journey they had.
“Special. It’s been five years since we won the championship. We say that we are a brotherhood but we really are that on and off the court,” he expressed after Ateneo’s 88-86 title-clinching win. “It’s a really close bonded team and I enjoy being part of it.
“It was a great season, a beautiful season.”
But there was one moment in the game that went viral on social media. After Isaac Go made the dagger triple with 24.7 seconds remaining, the camera panned to coach Norman, who was bobbing his head to the tune of Ateneo cheer, “Go Ateneo”.
Coach Norman Black approves. ? #UAAPSeason80Finals pic.twitter.com/5DUd9WcQqY
— ABS-CBN Sports (@abscbnsports) December 3, 2017
When told about this, the third-year Blue Eagle laughed, saying that he had been too focused on the game to see it.
“I was kinda too focused on the game to see it but I know he’s proud of me,” he shared.
Kidding aside, the son of one of the greatest imports in PBA history can finally tell his father that he has one under his belt.
“I can go home and boast to him that I have one… But yeah he has five.”
