There’s no denying how physical the games were in the PBA back in the day. Norman Black knows all too well.
The legendary figure, touted as one of the greatest imports to set foot in Asia’s pioneering league — and also a decorated bench strategist who has won a coveted Grand Slam — recalled how tough the league was back in the day.
“We said no blood, no foul before back in the day, and even with Chito [Loyzaga], Abe King and [Yoyoy] Villamin, there’s a little bit of respect there too. As long as you can take the hit, don’t complain (shrugs). If I hit you, you hit me back, okay, that’s good.
“Now it comes down to who gets the last hit. But if I hit you and you hit me and I hit you back, don’t complain about it. That’s the type of respect we used to have before,” added Black, who has been in the pro league since 1982.
Black recalling those times comes at the heels of the controversial Commissioner’s Cup game between the Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters and TNT KaTropa last June 2, when Calvin Abueva and Terrence Jones figured in skirmishes.
Jones reportedly hit Abueva in the groin while getting back on his feet while the latter gave the former NBA cager a clothesline. They both incurred hefty fines, and Abueva got himself suspended by the league indefinitely.
Black said that what happened between Abueva and Jones on that cold Sunday night was far cry from exchanges before.
“But it was never what I saw in that game where guys are trying to hit each other in the groin and hitting each other on the throat and all that stuff. Once you start doing that, that’s gonna be a fight already. It’s gonna turn into a fight.”
Given the ugly incident, Black calls on all players to respect one another and not try to hurt each other.
“I think the guys should, including Calvin – I think I’ve been around long enough; I’ve been part of the league long enough to say that anybody can hurt anybody on any given night,” said Black, the current chief strategist of the Meralco Bolts.
“You can go to the basket, I can take your legs out from under you and end your career.
“So let’s respect each other,” Black added. “Let’s play hard, but let’s not get into the point where we try to hurt each other and then you’re going to take my livelihood away because of basketball. It’s not that important, believe me.”
