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SMART CLARK GIGA CITY – Norman Black is borrowing a page or two from the not-so-recent PBA playoffs.
As Meralco was unable to secure a top 4 result and a two-time lead to beat in the Philippine Cup quarterfinals, the veteran mentor draws inspiration from the fact that teams that were two times behind for winning in the quarterfinals did not always end. being ripped from the start.
The case of No. 8 NorthPort who took on NLEX during the last Governor’s Cup is clear evidence.
“It has happened in the past. I thought it happened at the last conference, ”Black said. “But obviously you have to play basketball well.”
So far, the Bolts are playing some of their basketball in franchise history, compiling a 7-4 (win-loss) record in an all-Filipino conference, which Black himself admitted has always been a fight for the team. .
“Just winning seven games is something we haven’t done before,” he said at the end of Meralco’s 80-73 win over NorthPort on Thursday to wrap up the Bolts’ knockout round assignment.
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Too bad the Bolts failed to secure a two-time lead to beat despite their winning record, due to the oddity of the quotient that saw them end up tied with five other teams with the same roster at press time.
To the extent that Meralco wanted to savor the moment even a little more, Black said there is still a lot of work to be done.
“We have to put that aside now and start concentrating on trying to get into the semifinals,” said the champion coach. “While reaching the quarterfinals is a great start, it’s not the way you want to end the league.”
Still, the entire Meralco team will have a short celebration to do, as Black is turning the page on Thursday.
“I’ll treat the players at Charly’s (restaurant bar at Quest Hotel) and that will be it. There’s not much you can do here (in the bubble), ”Black said on the eve of his 63rd birthday.
In his married life for the past 36 years, this will be the first time the veteran mentor has not celebrated with his wife.
“It’s different. We usually spend our birthdays together. We make sure that no matter where we are, we try to get together,” Black said of his wife Benjie Davila.
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If it was any consolation, he has with him in the bubble the son Aaron Black, Meralco’s rookie guard.
“Yes, Aaron is here, but he didn’t shoot well today,” he said of his son, who finished with just five points on 2 of 9 shooting from the field.
