Meralco head coach Norman Black never had any inkling that he has surpassed 700 wins as a PBA head coach, thus the genuine surprise when told so.
“I did not know that,” said the cage luminary.
Per league stats chief Fidel Mangonon, Black earned his 700th victory when the Bolts beat Ginebra, 101-95, in a clash of Governors’ Cup rivals last February 13.
Then, he got his 701st on Sunday, when his crew escaped Rain or Shine, 93-88, to get back to their winning ways in the season-ending conference.
“Wow. That’s a lot of wins,” he said with a chuckle.
Turning serious, Black offered that such a feat is further proof of how long he has been coaching in Asia’s pioneering pro league.
Well, he began as a playing coach in 1985 with San Miguel, the same franchise he steered to a historic Grand Slam four years later.
He was with the Beermen until 1996. He then went on to mentor Mobiline, Pop Cola, Sta. Lucia, Talk N Text, and now, Meralco.
“I had no clue about something like that. It’s the first time I’ve ever had it,” said Black, a winner of 11 PBA championships as a coach.
“You know what it means. It means I’ve been around for a long time. I’ve been coaching for a long time,” the 64-year-old added.
Black is now the second to reach 700 wins. The first, coincidentally, was the very coach he beat en route to that tally: Tim Cone.
Cone, who owns a record 23 PBA championships highlighted by a couple of Grand Slams 18 years apart, has 970 wins to his name,
“Okay, that’s good company,” said Black proudly.
“Very good company.”
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