Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Norman Black, Alex Compton happy to see return of physical play in PBA


They may have faced contrasting results in their bout Wednesday night, but head coaches Alex Compton and Norman Black felt like winners with what they saw in terms of the way the Alaska Aces-Meralco Bolts match was played.

Both mentors are lauding the way the referees are allowing games to be more physical, something that they have been longing for as physicality was controlled under former commissioner Chito Narvasa’s term.

“The games are being called a little differently now, they’re allowing a little bit more contact or a lot more contact on the court,” opined Black.

“I love it. I’m an old school guy so you can imagine. No harm no foul.”

“The physicality’s good. It’s good for the game. It’s real men going at it. That was a tough, hard-fought game [against Meralco],” Compton said, on the other hand.

“I like the direction the league is going in with officiating.”

The clash, which went in favor of the Aces 103-98 and served as their breakthrough win, was indeed a highly-physical affair that it became the season’s most whistled game so far as the referees called a total of 57 fouls.

And as fouls were whistled, free throws then came. It was a facet where the Orangemen simply dominated, as they shot 28-of-29 from the stripe — far from the Milkmen’s 20-of-22. But Compton doesn’t have any qualms about it.

“We lost the free throw battle, but that’s not because we got favored or something like that,” he said.

This kind of physical play in the league is now expected to be present in the coming games. And that is something that Black, who has been coaching in the league ever since 1985, has to prepare his players for.

“I think Alaska has already adjusted to the new way they’re calling the game.

“It appears a new way they’re calling the game. We have to make adjustments in practice so we can be a little bit more physical,” said Black.

#ReadMore  Magsayo all set for first world title clash as Russell struggles in cut
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.




You May Also Like

Basketball

Farm Fresh Corpo Ball was officially launched last August 3 at Shakey’s Tiendesitas in Pasig City, introducing a new basketball league focused on promoting...

Basketball

Meralco will once again represent the country in the East Asia Super League as the PBA’s lone representative for the upcoming 2025–26 season, the...

2025 SEA Games

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will appoint Norman Black as the head coach of the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s team for the upcoming 33rd Southeast...

ADMU

At just 26 years old, Sandro Soriano has already walked the path most coaches spend decades trying to pave. From being a student manager...

Basketball

The wait was indeed worth it for San Miguel. After a full year, the Beermen finally got back at the very same team that...

Basketball

DUBAI – Meralco collapsed in the third and ultimately bowed to Ulaanbaatar Xac, 83-78, in a bitter end to its Basketball Champions League Asia...

Basketball

DUBAI – Meralco is preparing to face another team from East Asia in the Basketball Champions League Asia (BCL Asia) 2025 quarterfinals on June...

Basketball

DUBAI — Jordon Varnado and Meralco heard all the criticisms thrown their way and the whole team took it personally, from the looks of...

Advertisement