The End of the Black Era for the Blue and White

Coach Norman Black brought four UAAP titles to the Ateneo Blue Eagles, and his last year might as well be the fifth for the school.

Ateneo head coach Norman Black is about to step down after UAAP Season 75. Will his departure be something that the followers of the Blue and White be worried about?

In a letter addressed to the Ateneo de Manila community, university president Fr. Jett Villarin, SJ announced that Coach Norman Black, who led the Blue Eagles to 4 championship titles in the Seniors' Basketball division in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, wished to return to the professional leagues and implement his system that brought him and the Blue Eagles success not only in the UAAP but also in various interschool competitions in the country. While it could be worrisome news for the fans of the Blue and White, it should not be a reason to panic.

Black has agreed to serve as head coach for Season 75, and will act as consultant for Seasons 76 and 77. Meanwhile, a search committee has been formed to look out for the next Blue Eagles head coach, a position that a lot would yearn for despite the fact that they have big shoes to fill in come 2013. Black started out for the Blue Eagles as a consultant way back in 2004 to then coach Sandy Arespacochaga. He was elevated to the head coaching position in 2005, and for the next three years, the Blue Eagles fell short of capturing a title, including a Finals appearance where the UST Growling Tigers bested the Blue Eagles in three games during the UAAP Season 69. But after those squandered chances, the Blue Eagles never looked back. Season 71 was the Blue Eagles' for the taking as they defeated their rivals the De La Salle University Green Archers in two games. In the following year, it was the University of the East Red Warriors who found themselves short of winning the coveted title.

And finally, in the next two years, the Blue Eagles swept another elite basketball program in Manila, the Far Eastern University Tamaraws, who had nothing but sheer disbelief as they ended Seasons 73 and 74 with losses that most of them would forever remember. And all of these achievements would be perhaps nothing if not for Black's system, which emphasizes defense and discipline above everything. Black's departure in the next three years could turn tables not only in the Ateneo Seniors' Basketball program but also in the UAAP as a whole.

In the past four years, Ateneo mightily stayed on top, and earned themselves the reputation for being the team to beat. Will this be the possible end of the Eagles' domination, considering that seven other teams have been making their changes in hopes of dethroning the boys from Katipunan? Among others who are waiting for the right opportunity to shoot down the Blue Eagles will be the DLSU Green Archers, who made a major overhaul following their elimination from the Final Four with a dismal 5-9 record in Season 74, as well as the FEU Tamaraws, who still boasts of a competitive lineup and coaching staff who are also wanting to redeem themselves after those Finals losses.

These questions, among others, will remain to be such in the coming seasons. However, looking back would be too early for Ateneo, for they still have a lot to look forward to. The Blue Eagles still have a title to defend come July, once the UAAP Season 75 opens. With Greg Slaughter, Kiefer Ravena, and Nico Salva leading the team (and a possible return of Ryan Buenafe), they are still in a position to win the championship, with Black still manning the sidelines for them. And in his last year as head coach, certainly the Blue Eagles will go for broke and once again push their limits just to keep the trophy in Katipunan Avenue, at least for one more year.

Another thing is that the Blue Eagles need not look too far in getting a replacement for Black. Assistant coaches Sandy Arespacochaga and Mike Jarin know Black's system all too well, with the former once leading the team before Black's arrival and the latter winning titles for the Juniors team, the Blue Eaglets, before he resigned as its head coach. Plus, there are several names that have already surfaced which could also be legitimate replacements, waiting for the invitation to hand over their resumes and be interviewed. Thus, it seems that there is nothing to fear at all in the hill. These questions and speculations can wait, for they still have ball games to win in the coming months.