MANILA, Philippines — Handling a team that has the potential to win more UAAP men’s basketball titles may not be enough to convince Ateneo Blue Eagles coach Norman Black to return after the upcoming season.
With Greg Slaughter assuring he would be back for his final year and reigning Rookie of the Year Kiefer Ravena still manning the point for a few years, the Blue Eagles are once again the favorites in the 75th UAAP season in July — and maybe the next few seasons after that.
But no matter what happens to the Eagles this coming season, Black is going to step down as head coach of Ateneo, the school announced yesterday.
Ateneo President Jose Ramon T. Villarin, SJ, said in a letter to students and alumni that Black's decision to end a seven-year partnership with Ateneo came because of his desire to return as PBA coach, most likely with Philippine Cup champion Talk ’N Text.
"It is with regret that I inform the community that coach Norman Black has indicated his desire to return to the PBA where he hopes to replicate his successful system," Villarin said. "Having been at the PBA before, he is in a way coming full circle with this move."
It has been rumored since last year that Black, who won 10 titles as mentor of San Miguel and Sta. Lucia in the PBA, will likely fill the TNT coaching post should Chot Reyes be tapped to handle the Smart-Gilas Pilipinas program.
The Bulletin tried to contact Black but was unavailable at presstime.
There were talks of Black's potential departure after the Eagles captured their fourth straight title last October but Villarin said that "coach Norman has agreed to Ateneo's request that he coach the Blue Eagles for the 2012 season."
Villarin added that Black, who has a coaching record of 95 wins and 24 defeats since arriving in 2005, will remain with the Ateneo program as consultant for at least the next two seasons once his coaching duties end in October.
A search committee has been formed to find a successor for Black.
The group is composed of chairman Edward Go, Fr. Nemesio Que, SJ, Ricky Vargas, Jack Huang and Joey Campos. Athletic director Ricky Palou will serve as an adviser.
Black, who moonlights as TNT consultant, also guided the Sinag Pilipinas to a gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games last November in Jakarta.
But before dreaming of another PBA title, Black is determined to give Ateneo a fifth straight UAAP championship.
source: mb.com.ph
