That New, Old Black Magic

The Bolts are winning despite David's struggles,
just as Black designed
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

And just when you thought that the professional game has passed Norman Black after looking every bit like a coach who just spent the last near decade or so in the amateurs, the man turns things around after what was initially deemed a "demotion."

See, Black was coming off a surreal five-peat championship quest with the Ateneo De Manila University-- a feat that probably won't be matched very soon. To reward him for his winnings and loyalty, he was handed the keys to run the college team's financier's crown jewel in the Philippine Basketball Association: The Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters. He made good in his first season back in the pros, winning a title and all-- but then it became pretty obvious that the title was more a "last hurrah" for his predecessor's system rather than Black's.

What followed was a series of disappointing finishes, with the Texters losing out on PBA Finals appearances and even semifinal showdowns which they're almost always a part of during the Chot Reyes Era.


Because he was the newest face on the team, Black became the scapegoat. Fingers were pointed at him for the Texters' funk. Black, to his credit, didn't hand out any alibis-- which he could have and probably should have. The core of his team was on loan to Gilas. Let that sink in a moment. How is a coach going to win when half of his team is not with him 100% of the way?

So Black was "demoted" to the Meralco Bolts-- the Cain to the Texters' Abel. The ugly younger brother that no one wants to talk to at family reunions because he's black clad, listening to punk rock music and looking emo as hell.

Over at the Bolts, we have to confess that it did seem like the demotion was well deserved for Black. The team was a mess, Gary David was (and still is) in an unexplicable funk, and they had Simon Atkins (!) running the offense which should be an insult to guys like Emman Monfort, Justin Melton, Rudy Lingganay etc. who are all languishing on some other team's second to third units.

But then, the Bolts started winning inspite of David's continued offensive struggles. Cliff Hodge became the center piece, much like Nonoy Baclao was in one of Black's old Ateneo champion teams. Guys played their part on offense, but more so on defense. They switched on the floor a lot with Jarred Dillinger and Sean Anthony. They were quick, tall, athletic and strong.

Welcome to the new, blue-collar (like their alternate uniforms) Meralco Bolts.

When the shots are not falling (and for Meralco, they haven't so far), the team could basically just buckle down on defense and get stops. They're not hustling all over the floor like headless chickens and scrapping it out-- they are stopping people and offensive sets right there and then on the halfcourt.

Now, the Bolts are looking to possibly enjoy its best finish since its PBA debut with a knockout match against the Alaska Aces standing in the way of a Best-of-Seven Semifinals clash with the Rain or Shine Elastopainters.

Who says the game has passed Black?