Bleachers' Brew #123 The Other Side

(This appears in my Monday column in the September 8, 2008 edition of the Business Mirror. I also wrote about the PBA's Boy Cruz several years ago and I got a letter from Noli Eala who was the Commissioner back then. You can read it here: http://bleachersbrew.blogspot.com/2006/05/stripe-is-badge-of-courage.html)

The Other Side
by rick olivares

Officiating is never easy and boy is that an understatement. I tried it one time and sucked at it. Never again. Having said that, does that make me a more sympathetic person towards the zebras? In a way, but not necessarily so because the men who blow the game whistles do it for a living and have done so for years. Is there room for error? Definitely. I expect them to blow some but sometimes, I can’t seem to believe that most people saw it one way when they didn’t get the call right. In fact, I always thought that many of the calls went against my home blues team in seasons past and it has deprived them of a legit shot to win a title or even advance. There were times I railed at it and there were times when I thought that my team played bad pure and simple.

This year, the scrutiny on UAAP Men’s Basketball officiating and its whistleblowers NABRO has been all the more intense. While I think that the calls are still the same as in seasons past – meaning it isn’t good – the reason why it’s all the more under a microscope is that some teams that were the beneficiaries of calls before aren’t getting it this year. And I’d also say that it is because of the manner in which the League Commissioner has chosen to go about his duties in a more confrontational manner such as the incidents with the staff of Adamson, Ateneo, and UST to name a few.

On the other hand, it has become a convenient excuse to blame others for their troubles. So I decided to ask NABRO for their side (take note that I said their side not anyone else’s since we’ve just about read about the others’ everywhere) in going about their job. I left out general discussions on why calls went this way since that was left on the basketball court, and I didn’t want to misquote anybody.

Suspend your belief and disbelief for the next few minutes. Just read it with an open mind then you can curse, offer your eyeglasses to them like what that guy from La Salle did last Saturday, or pay them off if you think that’s what’s right for you.

Mga ex-player kami. O kaya mga frustrated basketball players. Hindi lang pag-referee ang trabaho namin. Yung iba sa amin pulis, fireman, overseas foreign worker, negosyante, o architect. Pero lahat kami propesyonal kung sa ayaw niyong maniwala.

Bakit kami nagre-referee?

Kasi enjoy din kami sa basketbol. Hangga’t maari gusto namin mag-officiate ng magandang game. Yung perfect game. Iba rin yung magandang laro na kasama kami. Yun ang high namin na kahit paano bahagi kami ng magandang laro. Pero hindi nga rin naman kami perpekto. Nagkakamali din kami. Hindi excuse yun pero pinapanood namin yung mga laro at yung mga tapes ng bawat laro. We look at our mistakes. We talk and try to make sure that we get better. Meron kaming mga taripa na sinusundan.

Mahirap din yung trabaho dahil wala kang panalo. Kahit yung nanalong team sisisihin ka sa mga tawag.

Tanong nga ng misis ko, bakit gusto ko yung ganitong propesyon eh puro batikos naman kami? Pag nagkamali pati anak namin nagtatanong, “Pa, bakit ganun, eh wala naman foul?” Pinagsasabihan kami. You have to make quick decisions all the time. Pero base sa mga taripa ng officiating guidelines namin, meron kaming tinitignan na hindi alam ng mga nanonood. Mahirap din para sa kanila kasi pagdating sa iskwela, tinutukso sila na benta raw papa nila. Kahit sa dyaryo walang pahinga sa mga batikos. Naririnig namin yung mga mura at insulto pero trained kami na hindi magpakita ng emosyon o reaksyon. Paminsan minsan nag re-react kami pero kailangan hangga’t maari wag kasi makaka-apekto ng laro. Kapag nagkamali kami hindi namin agad nakakalimutan. Ilang araw din bago mawala sa isipan namin. Nung na-garahe yung isang kasama namin gawa ng laro ng FEU at La Salle, siyempre apektado kami. At yung second round game ng Ateneo at NU, ayun, naka-garahe na yung dalawang ref sa laro na ‘yun dahil sa failure to control the game (the match was way physical with a lot of trash talking). So we also have our fears. Parang natatakot kami mag-second guess kami sa mga tawag namin.

Mismo nga NBA o PBA; kahit PBL hindi rin perfect yung mga tawag. Mahirap din. But someone has to do the job ika nga. Nakapanood na ba kayo ng laro – kahit saan, anumang liga – na walang nagpropotesta sa tawag? Yung Olympics nga sobrang daming no-call. Masyado lang mainit kasi lahat gusto manalo at maraming team kasi may chance umabot ng Final Four this year.

Mga bayarin daw kami? Subukan kaya nila magpunta sa mga bahay namin. Tignan din nila mga player nila. Matagal na kami sa basketbol. Marami kaming napupuna pero tahimik lang kami. Kasi maaring hindi naman ganun talaga yung pangyayari di ba? So sa amin na lang yun. Minsan lang kami magpalitan ng obserbasyon ng mga ‘to. Tignan mo minsan yung tira, porma, galaw, o kilos. Yung iba dyan araw-araw nageensayo pero ganyan ang laro. Bakit hindi nila tanungin yung mga player nila?

Yung mga reaksyon ng mga coach? Oo, nagrereklamo sila pero at the same time, tactic nila yan. Para ma-technical o kaya kunin yung suporta ng crowd nila.

Nagpapatapon yung iba tulad ng isa. Bakit kasi lahat ay nagawa niya na para sa koponan niya tapos ayaw pa rin mag-responde. Yung isa tatakbo sa court kunwari aawat pero at the same time may sinasabi tungkol sa player ng kalaban nilang team. May mga taripa kaming sinusundan tungkol sa laro. Yun ang sinusundan namin.

The Fan Part VI (from my New York diaries)

Ewing and the Girl in the Bar
by rick olivares

After working for some Filipino-American shithead in Princeton, I decided the time was right to head back to New York. The Ateneo Alumni Association of New York hooked me up with some people and since it was post-9-11, it was hard to get a job. I worked at Burger Heaven, a Friday's type of resto on 5th Avenue and East 49th. I hated it at first thinking, "WTF am I doing here? Atenista ako!" Once I got over my self-pity and went about it, I started to do better and eventually it paid off with getting a nice job. Something I held until I went home. Here is an entry from my diary; something I sent to some friends via email. It remains unchanged as I wrote it back then.

Autumn 2003
Julie works at Saks on 5^th Avenue and East 49^th. She comes in around 5pm after work about twice times a week either for a light dinner or maybe a glass of wine. Then she’s off in the New York night leaving her light perfumed scent floating in the air.

Sazzad (pronounced Sah-jahd) would joke with Julie. If you ask me, the transplanted Bangladeshi was flirting with her. I can’t blame him though. There’s something about her that's like a computer prompt asking, “would you like to know more,” then you’d click it without thinking twice. She’s 5’8” with long blond hair that curls naturally at the edges. She puts on very little make up with some eye liner that accentuates her beauty. But what makes her so appealing is the way she dresses up so simply yet the word “looker” screams so loudly. As Frank Miller put it (in Sin City), she is a dame to kill for. When she’s off to the Stadium, she’d put on a baseball cap that fits her so nicely that I’m sure that were George Steinbrenner to see her, he’d sign her to replace Kevin Brown on the Yankees’ pitching staff. She could surely send a fastball in the slow 70’s and still strike out Manny Ramirez looking. Think of her as a young Tea Leoni who could play hoops.

Sazzad wasn’t on duty that day and so I was at the bar and I had her all to myself.

“Hey, you going to the Knicks game,” was my icebreaker.

She momentarily averted her eyes from Sportscenter on the above telly and looked at me in the eye. She took a sip of her Chardonnay then answered: “Umm, yeah. Reggie Miller’s in town so you can bet the Garden will be rocking, you know? You going?”

“I’d love to but I don’t have tickets. ‘sides I got the night shift at Virgin (Records in Times Square). I’m DJ tonight (I played music usually indie rock stuff and reggae). Honestly, I don’t root for the Knicks.”

Now I’ve done it. Me and my big mouth. Any chance of getting to know her anymore went out like the Garden faithful after another assassination by Michael Jordan. Maybe I should have lied.

“Serrriousllly…..” The white wine glistened on her lips and her eyes didn’t have that “Oh-you-poor-pathetic-out-of-towner look” that stuck up Noo Yawkers gave fans from Boston. “Let me guess. You’re Asian and it looks like you know your hoops. Chicago’s pretty big outside the US, huh?”

I nodded. “Bulls fan it is,” she said with simple deductive guesswork. “So am I right as a John Starks three?”

Olajuown would love you for that statement, I said.

Now I had her full attention.

I fessed up. I rooted for the Denver Broncos because I was a John Elway fan when he was QB1 for Stanford. I commuted to Nassau to watch the Islanders, and the red in my soccer veins was reserved for Liverpool rather than the Red Bulls. If you asked me right there and then, the only reason why she hadn’t gotten out of this heathen’s face was one, I was a hardcore Yankees fan and two, she hadn’t paid the tab yet.

“Get thee Satan away from me,” she giggled as she waved some imaginary wand. “Ewing is my favorite Knick.” She pulled out a Knicks #33 jersey from her bag and held it up like some good luck charm. “I’ll wear it tonight at the game.”

“Ewing -- the unconventional favorite but that’s me,” she said as she raised her wine glass and clinked on my bottle of Pelligrino.

“He’s a warrior,” I offered hoping to win some brownie points for my audacity to be contrary to her norm.

But it’s in a way true. I liked Ewing when he was the Hoya Destroya. Jesuit school loyalties die hard and so I rooted Georgetown. You can also thank Tom Clancy for that as well. He was the franchise for New York but the “fan favorite” status went to Starks or Charles Oakley. My only Knicks jersey was for another hellion in high tops – Latrell Sprewell. But Ewing. Wasn’t it him who dispatched Larry Bird’s Celtics? Or who took the fight to Scottie Pippen as the Knicks finally beat my Bulls in 1994?

Yet he was and is still underappreciated in New York. He only holds highs in almost every statistical category for the Knicks. He could be the all-time best had he won even one NBA title.

My ode to the Big Fella impressed Julie. And I refilled her glass. Turns out she was from Albany but moved to the Big Apple 10 years ago and she never looked back. “It’s a bleepin’ long time ago, but I like it here.”

Just then the door opened and some matinee idol (no he wasn’t but he is the type girls go crazy for) walked in. “Let’s go, babe,” he said and he gave her a wet kiss. “Game time’s in a bit.”

“I’ll see you ‘round, Rick. Nice talking to you. Keep the change,” she said as she handed over $30. She shook my hand and disappeared into the New York night.

The door closed and the autumn chill was gone. I thought of Michael Jackson’s “She’s out of my life” then closed up the bar.

What I was listening to on my ipod on my way home tonight:
Lions In My Garden - Prefab Sprout
Here Comes My Girl - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
That's Entertainment - the Jam
All The Things She Said - Simple Minds
Be Gone - British Sea Power
17 Berlin - My Favorite
Tracks of My Tears - Big Country
Slo-motion - Paul Hardcastle and the Jazzmasters

Post script:
I never saw Julie again as in a few days I moved to a marketing job for a top New York company on West 36^th just a stone’s throw away from the Garden. But I did wait on tables on weekends (this time at East 86^th and Lexington) because it kept me grounded. Believe me it does.

When Patrick Ewing was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame a day ago, I remembered that conversation with one of the prettiest girls I’ve ever seen. And as much as I think of Georgetown, the Knicks, and even Michael Jordan’s Bulls when the Big Fella’s name is mentioned, I still remember Julie and her light scented perfume that still permeates in my nostrils.

Ateneo vs. De La Salle Round Two

The High-flyers
Ateneo 65 vs. DLSU 57
words by rick olivares pix by Aly Yap

September 6, 2008
Araneta Coliseum
If the De La Salle Green Archers hoped to deliver an uppercut to the confidence of the Ateneo De Manila Blue Eagles maybe they should have chosen another intro aside from Bill Conti’s Theme from Rocky (Gonna Fly Now). Sure barker Rolly Manlapaz may have added to the “fight” ambiance by aping the stentorian voice of Michael Buffer but if anyone is gonna fly now, it’s those boys in blue and white (and black) who are kicking butt and taking names on the road to a finals berth. Maybe the team from Taft should have chosen another Italian job – perhaps the William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini (but they’ll have to ask UE’s band of which this has been a forever staple of their game music fare but with the brother of the coach in Recto that should be no problem).

But even that would be no match for the Blue Babble Battalion Band’s fantastic drum line performance during halftime that sucked the life out of the DLSU Pep Squad’s routine and pumped up the blue gallery all the more for the resumption of hostilities.

The Blue Eagles care not for any histrionics. They’re locked on their goal of hurdling La Salle and paying them back in spades for last year’s misfortune when Ateneo lost a twice-to-beat advantage that was a hair’s breath away. It’s tantalizing to see them matched in mortal combat with the Far Eastern University Tamaraws whom they’ve equally share a heated and at times violent relationship (see the Friendship Caravan of 1989 and the 2005 Finals).

Going against a powerful team like La Salle seems like man against nature but on this day, Ateneo behind a Tiunami of first quarter of points would seize a lead it would not relinquish.

Even during the inevitable Green Archer rally where a once robust lead was trimmed down to three at 38-35, they remained focused.

Teams like La Salle and UE are quick pressing teams that score heavily off turnovers. If that was the bane of past Ateneo squads, Norman Black’s teams have generally handled them with ease. When the pressure defense doesn’t work, opponents resort to physicality to throw off the Eagles’ finesse and slick passing game. It sometimes works but on this day that just wasn’t going to cut it. When Rico Maierhofer flopped to the floor while playing matador defense with 3:05 left to play in the 3^rd Quarter, the referees swallowed their whistles. With fouls at a bare minimum (a combined 27 for the match), the game was for the players to win and lose it.

As Ateneo repulsed the La Salle blitz with a 15-1 run of their own. Nonoy Baclao and Rabeh Al-Hussaini were taking Rico Maierhofer, Peejay Barua, and James Mangahas outside and burying their jump shots. If they were slow to box out, the two along with Mike Baldos would sneak in for an undergoal stab, putback, or a nifty up and under. All game long, the Green Archers were getting hammered from inside and out. Almost every shot they took there was an Atenean’s hand in their face. Gunner Jayvee Casio whose easiest points were off a turnover, slipped as he used a series of back picks to extricate himself from the great defense applied by Jai Reyes. If he did get free, Al-Hussaini swatted the ball out of bounds.

Even as Chris Tiu cooled off in the second half, Al-Hussaini and Baclao were doing a lot of damage. When the ball was kicked out, Reyes – who generally plays well against La Salle – killed them with timely three-point bombs (he hit three of four shots from beyond the arc).

Franz Pumaren called for time with 2:57 left in the 3^rd Quarter. And in a remarkable contrast between the two teams’ display of brotherhood, the Blue Eagles had their arms around one another as they listened to Norman Black issue instructions while for La Salle… well, whatever floats their boat. When the Green Archers returned to the court, Rico Maierhofer was psyching himself up as if to say, "You gotta do it." With his teammates’ guns silent, he took on Big Blue by his lonesome.

After Maierhofer (who like NU Bulldog Edwin Asoro has fallen in love with the three all the more this season) hit his only three-pointer of the game with under four minutes to play to bring the score to 62-57, it turned out to be DLSU’s final points. Baclao put in a huge twinner after twisting Maierhofer like a pretzel and Reyes added one free throw to restore the lead to eight 65-57 which was the game’s final score. Ateneo’s defense held and La Salle’s poor shooting (Casio and Barua would miss back-to-back trey attempts with 1:25 to play) did them in.

As the final buzzer sounded, the jubilant 13-1 Blue Eagles had exacted a measure of revenge by sending La Salle into a grudge match with FEU into their own Final Four three-game series.

Al-Hussaini put a stamp on his breakout season with another incredible performance as he scored 18 points, grabbed 11 boards to go with a 1 assist and a 1 block. Each time DLSU threatened, he coolly posted down Walsham or Maierhofer for a hook or a jumper; when he was fouled, he hit his free throws.

In the Press Room where Norman Black was taking questions, Al-Hussaini and Baclao quietly sat close by (but were blocked from view by the media throng) waiting for their turn in the Q&A. When the Ateneo mentor was done, Al-Hussaini stood up and quipped, “Coach, I didn’t know you were there?”

Black grinned. “Oh, hey, Rabeh. I was just talking about you.”

Before he sat, Al-Hussaini said, “Let’s talk about the team."

Ateneo 65 - Al-Hussaini 18, Baclao 11, Reyes 10, Tiu 9, Salamat 8, Baldos 4, Escueta 3, Buenafe 2, Salva 0, Burke 0, Austria 0

La Salle 57 - Maeirhofer 16, Atkins 9, Barua 8, Malabes 7, Casio 7, Villanueva 4, Walsham 2, Ferdinand 2, Webb 0, Revilla 0, Bagatsing 0

Note: I asked Aly Yap to take three photos: one with the sole Blue Eagle fan in the Green Patron section that says volumes, and two, the team timeouts with 4:05 left to play. I noticed that all game long -- that contrast in display of brotherhood. As I said, whatever floats your boat.

What's up, Coach?

I know back in the 80's members of the National Team would fly home just to make a crucial game. Even Ateneo did that with Jun Reyes (as did La Salle with Dindo Pumaren) and I don't remember the whys and wherefores but they did. I also remember UST flying back Aric Del Rosario for a crucial game that put him far away (he was with the Pampanga Dragons in the MBA).

I'm just shocked that when Pato Gregorio was SBP head, they gave the coach's whistle to Franz Pumaren for the RP Youth. Nothing wrong with Coach's credentials because he's a mighty fine hoops mentor, but for one, conflict of interest as he's recruited some of them for La Salle; two, he forbade the ballers from playing in the UAAP or wherever. But wait, kung bawal ang players bakit siya exempted as he can coach La Salle? Sorry. But if that's meant to cripple other teams that's not right. And as much as I'd like him on the Green Archers' bench, that was a poor show of leadership. However you look at it, he abandoned the RP Youth team. Because we were out of contention? We were never in contention so why go in the first place? But fight we must because you'll never know, right? It is obvious where his priorities lie.

The funny thing is he never lent players to the national team even before.

The SBP should put a coach with no vested interest. Another bad call by the NSA.

A Tiger Season's End

A Tiger Season's End

by rick olivares

They lingered around the old hoop house; the old gymnasium beside the P. Naval entrance. Classes weren’t till the afternoon and they had a couple of hours off until they had to troop to class. Practice was over and so were the lunch festivities as it was their coach’s birthday.

In the open air court across the gym, the cheerleaders rehearsed for their swan song routine for the season.

Swan song.

Japs Cuan sat pensively as his minds raced to all his years in UST since he was in high school. Ever the team leader, he carried the weight of 40,000-stong (the entire population of the España school) on his shoulders. A team trainer ambled over and patted Cuan on his back, “Kung hindi ka lang na injure…”

For all the rookie errors, injuries, misplays and mistakes of the coaching staff, and bum calls, the graduating point guard of the 2006 UAAP champs laid the blame on himself. When Allan Evangelista struggled to find his game amidst bearing the mantle of captaincy, it was Cuan who took over as cheerleader and guiding force. This was never more evident when he went down with a knee injury in the first round. Despite another MVP-caliber showing by center Jervy Cruz, it was crystal – Cuan made this team go.

When he first came out playing for UST, whenever he was introduced, he was (older brother and former De La Salle star) Mac Cuan’s brother. There was pressure for sure, he admitted. But that’s how you win championships. You get tested. And the past season was well… testy.

What many people do not know is while he publicly said he was better, Japs knew in his heart he wasn’t. It was a risk playing because aggravating it could… well, he didn’t want to dwell on that. There was one last campaign to go out and give back something.

The skies were rapidly darkening with all the tell signs of rain but it was humid and forward Chester Taylor, towel in hand wiped off the sweat. “Mainit,” he smiled. “Pero okay lang.”

That sentence defines Taylor, the son of an Australian father and a Filipina mother. Playing for UST, he has been oft asked to guard the opposition’s big man and he does so without complaint. “Kung ano pagawa ni coach I’ll do it. We all have roles on this team. We can all score but we all have roles to fulfill if we want to win. Bali wala naman ang stats kung hindi ka naman panalo.“

At that point Jervy Cruz walked over and sat on the bench. He listened in as Cuan and Taylor talked about the season at length. They felt that their not playing in the summer leagues as a team (several of them with different PBL squads) eventually prevented from them gelling completely. They bemoaned the fact that they were not healthy all season long. Cruz had his much publicized foot problems while playing for Hapee Toothpaste. Ababou battled an assortment of injuries that affected his shooting form. Swingman Khasim Mirza was slowed down by a knee injury. And there was Cuan's momentum killer.

If he weren’t so tall, Cruz would disappear in a crowd. While makulit when with his teammates, he’s normally quiet and prefers the solace of losing himself into his ipod’s music. “Tapos na,” he said after his teammates bared their souls. “Pero nagpapasalamat ako kasi nangyari lahat ‘to.”

He toiled in obscurity in UST’s Team B for four years something that bothered him no end that he nearly transferred to Jose Rizal University. In fact, he tried out but didn’t even merit any notice from the Heavy Bombers' Coach Ariel Vanguardia. “Nag tryout ka ba,” asked a surprised Taylor who thought that Cruz only considered it. The center nodded. “Buti na lang,” followed up his teammate.

Yet for all of Cruz’ remarkable consistency, he had a hard time when Cuan was out. “Parang buong season hirap kami. Lagi kaming naghahabol. Kapag natatambakan kami tapos naka-rally kami, naiisip minsan namin na kayang-kaya. Pero kinapos na rin kami.”

Cruz like Taylor, Cuan, and Francis Allera, Mark Canlas, and Mel Gile are all graduating and will leave Ababou the sole remnant from the 2006 title squad. The high-leaping forward admitted to giving a brief thought of leading a raw team next year, but right now, he was still bothered about how the season went awry. Ababou, who missed practice as he was in class all morning, tried to remain upbeat as students said hi or posed for pictures. A teacher from his Art Appreciation class passed by and thanked him and his teammates for their efforts. In UST’s last outing against UE where their rally fell short, Dylan felt a bit happy because he played well after struggling in their past few games. But as the sobs permeated the UST locker room as the Tigers were booted from Final Four contention, Ababou, just as Taylor had said earlier, knew that individual stats were meaningless. The team fell short. He then let loose his tears.

Five years ago, as a senior at Siena College, Ababou hoped to go to La Salle but wasn’t recruited or even given a second look. A teammate of his was being recruited to play for UST and he tagged along. The recruiter liked Dylan’s size and he was eventually brought to España as well. “Best decision ko yun so far,” he said with distinct pride. "Happy ako nasa UST ako."

Japs Cuan was off to class. He pulled down his baseball cap to cover his eyes that were somewhat watery. It wasn’t obvious anyway because of the downpour that sent everyone scampering for cover. Putting things in perspective, he won a championship in high school and in college. That two that many never even get to experience. So he was thankful in some way. Along with Cruz, their coach’s never-say-die attitude has rubbed off on them. They’d dearly love to play for Coach Pido Jarencio’s old team, Ginebra San Miguel (for Taylor, he doesn’t care what team he goes to as long as he can make it to the pros if given the chance). “It’s also a dream,” said Cuan. “My old one – playing for UST – is almost over.”

While some people expected Cuan to go to La Salle to follow the path of his older brother, he stayed put in España with Mac being very supportive of his sibling’s decision. Even during games between the Green Archers and UST, Mac wore the gold of the Tigers in a powerful show of support. And in an ironic twist since the boon of 2006, Mac is now introduced as, “Japs Cuan’s brother.”

“But it’s all in good fun as we support each other,” laughed the graduating Tiger. All thoughts then turn to tomorrow (Saturday September 6). “Syempre, we want to win the game against UP so at least we win in our final game as Tigers. After that it’s time to live a new one.”

The Tigers milled around the old gym beside the P. Naval entrance. They can’t believe it’s almost over.

Post script:
In their final game of Season 71, the UST Growling Tigers beat the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons 71-63. Jervy Cruz scored 21 points, Dylan Ababou 19, Japs Cuan 3, and Chester Taylor 2. As the Tigers made their way off the Araneta floor for the last time, Cuan removed a necklace, made the sign of the cross, and pointed up high to the Man upstairs.

Author's Note:
Thanks, guys! Wish I had more time to write about the Tigers and their amazing coach.

The guys were very accommodating and I was surprised that they opened up to a lot of things about the season that passed. Believe me, they told me a lot some of which are insider's stories. What also impressed me was their honesty and sincerity. And Cuan... dude, galing mo! Best of luck to your stint in the PBL.

Thanks to my kids -- my Event Secretariat at the UST College of Commerce -- for facilitating this. See ya round, team! Sa uulitin.

Thank the Man, dude!

National University vs. Adamson University Round Two

First, Last, and Always
The battle to go out a winner
by rick olivares

This is one of those seasons that seemed to take forever to start. Then when it did, it became agonizingly slow with all the losing. And at the end, they wished they had a few more games left in them.

The Adamson Falcons and National University Bulldogs were in locker rooms across each other at the Araneta Coliseum. Both toted identical 2-11 records heading into the match. On each of their white boards was a simple message – “win one more.”

In the huddle of NU, Jay Jahnke, playing in his final game was so pumped up as he led his team in a resounding “Bulldogs.” But his effort at first did not match his desire as he lapsed into foul trouble and left the game to be run by Michael Luy and Jerome Tungcul. At the half, Coach Manny Dandan let Jeff Napa and Rico Perez do the initial debriefing. The two assistants railed at the team’s inability to execute what they’ve practiced long and hard. Then Dandan scored Edwin Asoro’s three traveling errors. “Pare naman, pinituhan ka na pinipilit mo pa. I need you to score not to add to our turnovers,” pointed out the frustrated coach.

Over at the Adamson side, Coach Leo Austria was pleasantly surprised when graduating players Paul Gonzalgo and Marc Agustin spoke up, “Sa mga maiiwan na players, ‘wag niyo gagayahin mga mali namin. Nakita niyo na ang pwede mangyari.”

“O, manalo tayo para sa school natin, sa mga sumosoporta sa atin, at sa mga graduating players natin,” cried Austria. “One, two, three…”

“Falcons!”

For NU, the season has been a roller coaster ride of emotions. New management, new equipment, and a new kind of pressure. They're losing a chunk of their offense and defense as Jahnke, Asoro, and Raymond Aguilar will be playing their last UAAP game. Among the remaining players, there’s a measure of fear what with new recruits coming in. Will they even make next year’s squad? They’ll think of it in a few weeks. For now, it’s trying to stay out of the cellar.

As the team filed out of the dugout at the half, Dandan sat in one of the cubicles and smoked a cancer stick. “Hopefully, we’ll see better results for the team next year,” he said with an air of hope. “But we should take off by 2010.”

That is if he’ll still be around. NU Athletic Director Junel Baculi, his impassive look difficult to fathom, sat in a nearby chair. In his amateur days as a Mapua Cardinal, he was a firebrand. And he brought that same kind of intensity to his stint with Philips and later as coach of PCU, Hapee, and Welcoat among others, He was a guard but played with a linebacker’s ferocity. On the opposite side of the court for Adamson was an old nemesis, Jing Ruiz, the Letran Knight who he had many a memorable battle with. Baculi is to deliver a report to management after the season -- after this game -- was over.

Adamson was flying on broken wings. The thing one has to know about the lower tier schools in the UAAP pecking order is that they chafe at the inability to get calls. “It’s our status,” bemoaned on official who refused to be identified. “We’re not a rich school.” The row with the Commissioner – born out of the loss to La Salle -- had not subsided. Controversy is in the eyes of all the beholders.

Jan Colina, despite it being his sophomore year on the team, can be a bundle of nerves. He’s just a small town boy with big city dreams. When he makes mistakes, he shrinks. Coach Leo Austria has been trying to build his confidence. “Watch out next year,” promised Mr. Miracle.

The coach scored a direct hit when he said that there isn't one Falcon on any PBL line-up. “You’ll get an invitation if you play well in the UAAP,” noted the former PBA Rookie of the Year. “People will remember you in the UAAP not in the PBL. Ticket niyo yan sa pros.”

He shook his head at the talent of Gonzalgo and Agustin. “Magaling. Pero sana nung isang taon pa sila nagpakita ng gilas. Eh, papano ngayon yan?”

Once on the floor, the Bulldogs are unable to make any headway as the Falcons threaten to turn the match into a laugher. Their inability to finish on the break or even make their free throws told in the end as Adamson notched win #3 68-57.

The Bulldogs were once more in that familiar position of being in the bottom of the standings.

The white board in the NU locker room was clean. The diagrams long since erased. There were thanks going on around but there were some heads shaking in dismay. Within the next few days, there's going to be some new names on the wall.

Over at the Adamson side, there were no words but numbers: “3-11.” And the room despite the muted cheers had smiling faces all around. The trying times can do a number on you. But Austria wishes he could have done more not just for the school but for Gonzalgo and Agustin.

“Hindi namin na achieve yung gusto namin which is to be a real contender,’ apologized Austria. “We have to build on this and get better.”

Yup. And next season will take forever to start.

Note:
For NU, thanks to Coach Manny Dandan and his staff, the Sys, Junel Baculi, Mr. Bam Paguia, Dr. Arline Royo, and the Bulldogs for their insights, stories, and sharings. Good luck, Jay! Jessey, I owe ya one.

For Adamson, thanks to Coach Leo Austria, Mr. Roel De La Rosa, and Leo Canuday for their frankness, openness, and ideas. We'll expand the story soon.

Hell on shoes

adidas Originals & Universal Pictures 'Hellboy II: The Golden Army'
Tri-collaboration: 2 pairs of special edition sneakers
OUT TODAY – SEPTEMBER 5!

A unique tri-collaboration has given birth to two special edition shoes for sneaker collectors and Hellboy fanatics. adidas Originals, Universal Studios & Guillermo Del Toro, the film’s director, and Dark Horse Comics & Mike Mignola, the original comic book artist of Hellboy have come together and given inception to the Stan Mid-Hellboy and Forum Mid-Golden Army. In celebration of this rare opportunity, adidas Originals is hosting the premier night of the much-awaited movie Hellboy II: The Golden Army on September 5 at The Power Plant Mall Cinema, Rockwell.

For comic, movie, and sneaker aficionados, the Forum Mids represent the best of all three worlds. The shoe comes in a specially designed package boasting a trio of gold, black, and white with the Hellboy lettering across its Velcro strap. On the shoe’s outsole and footbed is the image of Ron Perlman, the titular demonic anti-hero of the movie. Watch out for a possible onscreen appearance of this shoe! Only 41 pairs will be sold at the adidas originals store in Trinoma, Greyone Social in Rockwell, and the Shoe Salon Glorietta on September 5.

Completing the pair of these special edition shoes is the Stan Smith Mid which comes in a black patent leather with the bestselling ‘pimpled’ sole. An exclusive image of Hellboy from Mike Mignola himself retains the aesthetic feel of both film and publication. Extra details on the inner and outer sole, like a collection of three extra footbeds, lace jewels, a mini-comic and unique tongue branding, finished with a box created exclusively for this three-way collaboration make for a very special release. Available in only 6 pairs at the adidas Originals Concept store in Trinoma also beginning on the morning of September 5th.

Catch them and unleash the Hellboy in you!

What a thrill

When I first saw Come Fly With Me back in high school (thanks, Gary Villanueva), there was a portion in the video where an awestruck kid looked up at Michael Jordan as he patiently signed autographs. I've never been one for autographs but I do get some once in a while. Of course, I know the feeling of being awestruck having been side by side with Marky Ramone (Virgin Records Times Square), Courteney Cox (at Ray's Pizza in Greenwich Village), Zach Braff (while he was promoting Garden State at the Siren Music festival in Coney Island), the New York Yankees' Jason Giambi (at Burger Heaven on East 86 and Lexington), Jorge Posada (Yankee Stadium), and Roger Clemens (Rockefeller Center), Dwyane Wade (NBA Store on 5th Avenue), the Golden State Warriors, and a lot of others.

I didn't even recognize Zach Braff as I'm not too particularly a fan of Scrubs. But I unknowingly struck up a conversation with him when I was at the Siren Festival to watch Deathcab For Cutie, the Ponys, and some Latin American jump swing band. We chatted and I never knew who the hell he was until later. There were a lot of booths and they were giving away free CDs, pins, and stuff. I was more intent on watching Pam Anderson talk smack about KFC (it didn't help that she was showing off her cleavage). The Cure had embarked on their Curiosa Tour (I saw them at Randall's Island) and someone was playing their new album nearby. I remarked that I thought that their music was once more darker in tone much like their previous efforts Pornography and Disintegration. And Braff then interjected that maybe I should give the Shins a try. That's what sparked the conversation. He later gave me a bush hat promoting Garden State. He said he directed it and me, still a dunce, didn't still recognize who he was had the moxie to say (but nicely), "So who's starring in it?"

He offered, "Natalie Portman."

To which I incredulously replied, "You're shitting me?"

I then looked at the promo material in the booth and suddenly realized who he was. Hahahaha. But I didn't even think he was like a major star. Hahahaha. Garden State, yeah I love it. Saw it twice at AMC on 42nd Street with friends and the other during a date.

Another fun experience was leading a "Let's go, Yankees" chant (I had to run out of the office) going against some Boston Red Sox fans who were trying to encourage Alex Rodriguez to sign for their club. It was a good natured exchange as NBC filmed us for the Today Show. It was reported on NBC that Rodriguez and his agent, Scott Boras looked out at the window at what was going on outside. And that was special.

I have this picture of Bill Ray Bates slamming home the ball during his time with Ginebra San Miguel and it was a thrill meeting him outside the dugout of the Araneta Coliseum. I've been trying to look for the picture (I know it's somewhere at my parents' home) though. And receiving a jacket and a Christmas card from Sonny Jaworski was an awesome experience.

Not so cool people -- Sean Penn during the filming of The Interpreter (outside the office in Brooklyn) and James Gandolfini (at Burger Heaven on East 86th). I can understand a person's need for privacy but they do not have to be rude. A kid was asking for Gandolfini's signature and he rudely brushed off the kid with a few expletives.

During the 2004 US Open in a battle of virtual unknowns in Men's Singles, former Stanford All-American KJ Hippensteel went up against Italian Filippo Volandri. I don't remember the score but the American lost (Volandri I do know would go up against Argentinean Guillermo Cañas next) and as he made his way out, a kid -- maybe around nine or ten years old waved at Hippensteel and asked for his autograph. I do remember the exchange quite well:

Kid: Mister, can I ask for your autograph?
KJ: Sure, but I just lost. Is that okay with you?
Kid: It's okay. I know you'll bounce back.

Honestly, I don't know who felt better after that. But I looked at the kid as he went up to his dad and excitedly exclaimed, "Dad, guess who I got?"

For some people, an autograph is a big deal. Some treasure them while others look for profit. I can understand a celebrity's reticence over such things. Nowadays, I prefer pictures more. Nevertheless, people should never understand the power of such things have over kids. Whether rightly or wrongly, celebrities become role models. The chance meeting -- even the autograph -- become founts of inspiration.

If athletes and celebrities are willing to accept the adulation of people then they should accept the criticism as well. It comes with the territory; no questions asked.

I was watching a seniors basketball player (who wasn't busy, tired, or harassed as he was joking around with others -- I won't say what team) the other day being asked to sign an autograph by a team official for some people and he wasn't thrilled at all by it. Of course, he's entitled to that. Why not? Several feet away from him was a player from the juniors team watching him be an ass rather than politely decline.

The juniors player shook his head then walked away.

Rooks

Someone was asking me what IMHO is the best rookie class for the Ateneo Blue Eagles.

I'd say it's a toss up between the '74 team of Pons Valdez, Chito Narvasa, Fritz Gaston, and Joy Carpio and the '85 team of Robbie Tanjuatco, Len Mumar, Jun Reyes, Joseph Canlas, Jet Nieto, and Alex Araneta. If Jay Gayoso didn't go to La Salle that year, then he'd make this frosh class the best ever. Easy.

The '74 rooks went on to win two titles and fought for a third and lost. The '85 team eventually helped the Hail Mary Team win two UAAP titles, 1 MMBL title, 1 National UAAP title, and a few others. The '74 rooks had two players go to the PBA where they won titles with Crispa, U-Tex, and Great Taste. The '85 team had three players (including Gayoso) go to the PBA where they also won titles with Alaska and Ginebra.

Honorable Mention:
the '67 Blue Eagles of Chito Afable, Ricky Palou, and company
the '98 squad of Enrico Villanueva and Wesley Gonzales

So the jury's still out on Ryan Buenafe, Nico Salva, Justin Chua, and Vince Burke.

Of tickets and allocations

You have to wonder why the UAAP format doesn't go back to the old one where it's the Juniors-Seniors games of the teams. That way for example, on September 6, it's an all Ateneo-La Salle affair. That will partially solve the demands for the tickets. But no. No. No. No.

Schools like UST (yes they shot down this proposal from DLSU and ADMU) frown upon the continued fixation of the media, the general public, and advertisers with the two schools. Thus they have frowned upon any suggestions for such. In case you noticed, whenever the two schools play, UST is as much as possible on the twinbill. Nakikisawsaw sa ratings and sa gate receipts. Sa inyo na nga General Championship pati rito nandyan pa kayo.

It's sad when you think that students from UP who want to watch their team's final game this season not have enough because a lot are being allocated to Ateneo and La Salle. And if you passed by Blue Eagle Gym, you would have seen some of those scalpers in line. Ang daming nakapila na hindi naman mukang alumni. It's not that they aren't entitled to watch but they should buy that at Araneta. What is sold at the schools should be made exclusive to the students and alumni. Meron pa nga raw nagbebenta ng space niya sa pila for Php 500 smackers! Talk about opportunists.

Memo to other schools: Walang hakot sa crowd ng Ateneo and La Salle. Hindi nga requirement for PE students to attend. Unlike in the NCAA where they even have to bus their students.

Then there are those alumni na nakaupo sa baba na walang ginawa kung di mag-criticize. Eh tangina... wag na lang kayo manood. It's a different time, mga pare. You compare cheering now with your time? I double dare you... read those old issues of the Guidon where even back then, the cheering was an issue. And the school was a smaller place. Eh ilan ba yung number ng students back then? Konti lang and of course they would all cheer. Nandoon yung mga moderators nila. And walang ginawa kung hindi upakan si Norman Black at yung mga player. Then pag nanalo akala mo sila naka shoot ng game winner. I'm not saying blindly support and not criticize. That's fine. Just put it in the proper venue and not during games when you yell at the players and the staff during timeouts. Whew!

Then there's Araneta Coliseum na ubod na swapang sa media allocations. If they can even sell seats on the court they will. Wala naman ganyanan.

Memo to Ateneo: It's about time to renovate Blue Eagle Gym into that state of the art arena that was proposed during Fr. Tito's time. Make it happen.

CCL Power Rankings Week #11

The number one song in the Metro... ahem. Was just trying to sound like Casey Kasem there for a moment. So now... onwards to the championship. Fabilioh!

Meet the Beatles, ahhh, the Blue Eagles

The first time I heard people oohhh, ahhh, and scream their heads off for a hoops player in the UAAP was when Vince Hizon was playing for the Blue Eagles. Of course, I remember it somewhat vaguely because that was more than a decade ago. Then it's for this batch of Eagles for how many years running now. On the floor at courtside, the sports shooters and I always grin and laugh. These are pictures from the Blue Eagles' appearance at Trinoma last Sunday (August 31). As George Gervin once said, "What a life!"


pix by Aaron Vicencio

Five minutes with Caloy Loyzaga

The first thing I noticed is Caloy Loyzaga despite putting on some weight seems to be powerfully built. The handshake -- he's got a powerful vise-like grip -- confirms that. And he looks you in the eye when he talks to you. And he is sincere and very polite and friendly. A true gentleman of an era gone by. The man has a lot of stories to tell and there's so much that I wanted to ask him, but we didn't have time. His son, Chito, was a teammate of mine in a team named for an old foe of his father at that time, Team (Frankie) Rabat, in the Ateneo Basketball League. I think I was the only non-varsity player on the squad. Hahahaha. We also worked together for some baseball coverage when I was with Solar Sports and have kept in touch about hoops and sports. It helps too that I was a fan of Toyota and Ginebra.

Rick: How are you, sir?
Caloy Loyzaga: I am good! Good. And you?

Rick: Fine, sir. How are you enjoying the game (Ateneo vs UE second round)?
Caloy Loyzaga: I am enjoying it. It’s a different game now, yeah? Not what we played in the day.

Rick: You came here to watch Ateneo – your old rival? Have you seen San Beda yet this year?
Caloy Loyzaga: Well, I… we have a history with Ateneo. And Chito (his son) also went there. So we also root for our old rival. (laughs) You’ve had a lot of very good players over the years. The Ateneo center… what’s his name?

Rick: Rabeh Al-Hussaini.
Caloy Loyzaga: Ah. Robbie?

Rick: Rabeh.
Caloy Loyzaga: Rabeh. He can be more dominant if he improves his footwork and moves a lot faster. He is getting double-teamed so he must make faster decisions with the ball. You see, when you get the ball, don’t give the defense a chance to think. If you can take your man, take him out fast. I don’t think anyone can guard him. But he brings down the ball, you see?

Rick: So you think Ateneo will beat UE?
Caloy Loyzaga: UE’s playing good defense, but I expect Ateneo will adjust. You have intelligent players. It’s going to be a good game.

Rick: How about San Beda; have you watched them lately?
Caloy Loyzaga: Not yet. Tomorrow we will. Not since… what’s his name? The African?

Rick: Sam Ekwe.
Caloy Loyzaga: Yes, Sam. Not since his first year in the NCAA. I heard he’s even better now.

Rick: Do you still follow basketball?
Caloy Loyzaga: Not so much. Don’t ask me too much about the game today (laughs). I don’t know much about it. It’s not the game I played. I play golf. I’m playing golf with my son on Saturday. But I followed the Boston Celtics’ championship season in the NBA. They have a good big man in (Kevin) Garnett. I love the Celtics. I’m glad they’re back. It brings back memories.

Rick: (pleasantly surprised) You’re a Boston Celtics fan? Cool.
Caloy Loyzaga: Oh yes. All the way to the Bill Russell era. I played against him (in the 1954 World Basketball Championships) and (pausing to enunciate) he is the best basketball player who ever lived.

After this I went back to court leaving the Big Difference to chat with inboundpass' Kim Lesaca. I did get to speak with Mr. Caloy again briefly but the longer interview did not push through.

Taking aim at the Premiership

With Fernando Torres limping off the Villa Park pitch last weekend with a hamstring injury, unimpressive Liverpool are no longer unbeaten but they have to cede the reputation of having the best one-two Spanish duo in the English Premier League.

That honor now goes to Francesc Fabregas and Manuel Almunia both of that North Holloway club in London, Arsenal. Everyone knows me as a Liverpool fan (although I also wear Chelsea’s home kit to Ateneo games), but the Gunners are fun to watch more so since they average at least two goals per game while playing an attractive brand of attacking football. That’s kind of strange when the side curries a distinct French flavor and French football isn’t your Latin American variety. But Fabregas and Almunia have been solid for this club and should lead the side again. Football observers everywhere have predicted a two-club clash between Manu and Chelsea for the Premiership while Arsenal and LFC battle it out for the next two slots. Tottenham, Everton, and Aston Villa are expected to crack the top four.

I think Arsenal will challenge for the Premiership despite not having the big names on their side. Yet it depends on how healthy the club is.

Arsenal’s fortunes – they were leading the Premiership until Eduardo da Silva went down with that horrific leg injury – hinge on the health of Fabregas and the return of Eduardo who is a prolific scorer.

With this side having adjusted to all the changes, Tomas Rosicky, Theo Walcott, Nikolas Bendtner, Samir Nasri, Emmanuel Adebayor should be able to lead and challenge Manchester United and Chelsea for the Premiership. And look for huge find Aaron Ramsey to make an impact with this club. Arsene Wenger predicts great things from this youngster.

Offense-wise, no side was as effective with those killer crosses last year as much as Arsenal. They booted in 30 (of their 74 total) goals from superb crossing. And they scored more goals than Chelsea who placed second in the title race and were only six goals behind champion Manchester United.

Adebayor, who was named to the PFA Team of the Year alongside Torres as team striker, gives Arsenal a lot of firepower up front but he should be a little smarter on the offense. He was booked 68 times last year for being offside. Wasted chances, dude.

The Togo international is as fast and powerful as Chelsea’s Didier Drogba. Adebayor was one of four Gunners named as the Premiership’s best last season including Bacary Sagna, Gael Clichy, and Fabregas.

I’m not sure though that William Gallas should continue to wear the captain’s armband. That should maybe be handed over to Koulo Toure or Fabregas after Gallas’ emotional meltdown towards the end of last season. Never show your wounded pride, Gunner. You'll need it if you want to challenge ManU and challenge you will.

As for the Premiership, this is what Wenger, that Emirates Stadium icon, has to say, “Get ready for the fight, lads. We’re in it good."

Musical Chair News: Robinho has left the Bernabeu for English side Manchester City. Holy cow! In the meantime, longtime Anfield players Steve Finnan and Andriy Voronin left Liverpool for Espanyol and Herta Berlin respectively. In their place, they get Spain midfielder Albert Riera. French striker, Louis Saha, late of Manchester United is now with Everton.

Bleachers' Brew #122 Hill Street Black & Blues Part One

(This appears in my Monday September 1, 2008 column in the Business Mirror.)

Hill Street Black & Blues Part One
by rick olivares

Norman Black’s journey began the moment he went down from the hill.

He had marvelous adventures as only a kid could have while growing up in a place called “uphill” in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. There he whiled the time away playing football, baseball, and “running around the block to find out who the fastest in the neighborhood which was a big deal during those days,” as he fondly recalled of those pursuits.

A mere five-foot-five youngster, Norman enjoyed patrolling the outfield and pretending to be his idol Frank Robinson, the Baltimore Orioles’ All-Star outfielder. Along with the Washington Bullets’ center Wes Unseld, the two professional athletes would later shape much of his demeanor as an athlete and as a person. The young lad who was an infectious bundle of energy, would sit still in awe of Robinson when he would go with his grandparents to the Old Lady of 33^rd Street as Memorial Stadium, the Orioles’ home field back then was affectionately called by Baltimore folk. Meeting him during one fans’ day remains one of his biggest thrills to this day. “Frank Robinson (Black would always say people’s complete names as a sign of respect) was not only an immensely talented man, but it was the way he carried himself on and off the field that made a huge impression on me,” offered Norman with sainted reverence. “You have to remember that this was the 1960s – a vastly different time for every body.”

The era was marked with discontent and revolution as the world was forced to confront issues such as racism, nuclear holocaust, and the Domino Theory. Worse, there were the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Acutely aware of what was happening around him, Norman kept to sports. After winning a race in junior high school, his mother was advised by school officials of her son’s athletic talent and it was in their best interests to move him to a private school where could properly discover his potential.

He transferred to Cardinal Gibbons High in southwest Baltimore and while it was a longer ride home (“Two buses going to school and three rides back,” is how Norman related of the change from the familiar to the unfamiliar), it was there where his roundball journey would begin.

By the time he got to high school, Norman underwent a growth spurt of eight inches and basketball became a more logical choice for sport.

There was a recreation center down hill that had a basketball court where the “uphill” folk were not welcome. “Unless you had skills,” pointed out Norman. His older sister knew people down hill and she introduced her kid brother to them. While down hill kids eventually allowed him to play, they refused to pass Norman the ball. In a seminal moment that would go on to define his career as a player, Norman learned to fend for himself. “How did I become a great rebounder,” explained the multi-titled player and coach, “Since they didn’t want to pass me the ball, I had to grab the rebound myself if I wanted to shoot.”

The gym wasn’t the regulation-sized court. On either side were ropes and roman rings that were used for PE classes. And at the end of one baseline was a wooden stage used for PTA functions. “It was the kind of court where you took a couple of dribbles then you shoot. On the way back down, it was like an obstacle course because you had to avoid the ropes and rings,” laughed the coach at his beginnings as a gym rat. “Then if you were running at full throttle, you had to stop on a dime because you’d run into the stage. You had to learn pretty fast how to do that so you didn’t blow out your knee.”

It was during his freshman year in high school when Norman was cut from the team. “It was a long bus ride home,” he recalled of that unhappy day. “In hindsight, they did the right thing because they went 29-1 and won the city championship.” But the setback didn’t stop him as he worked hard at improving his game. He stopped playing other sports and concentrated 24-7 on basketball. “I played plenty of shooting guard back then and I emulated the Chicago Bulls’ shooting guard Bob “Butterbean” Love on the playground. Bob Love,” smiled Norman at the nugget of his youth. “He had that silky smooth jumper and a great name.” Black cracked the line-up the following year and led his school to the finals in his junior and senior years (they won in his third year).

He was so focused that to his eternal regret he didn’t notice until much later that for three straight years he was the only male inside the school bus along with 25 other females. “Some of them saw me play and had to know I was All-City in my junior and senior years and I never said one word to them in all that time. I wasn’t even aware of the attention that athletes got,” he chuckled.

Even as early as his sophomore year, St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia had taken an interest in recruiting him for college. Although it boiled down to St. Joe’s and Stanford, he remained in the east coast because it was a two-hour drive from Baltimore and his mom, who was impressed with the Jesuit school’s long-time interest in her son, could come and watch him play. His grandparents also absolutely forbade him to move west after an uncle was murdered in San Francisco area.

At St. Joe’s, Norman, a Communications major, led the Hawks in scoring and rebounding for his entire college career; something no other player has done so in the school’s basketball history. Undrafted into the pros, he found himself playing with Adrian Dantley, Eddie Jordan, John Lucas, and Joe Pace in the Washington summer league. Despite racking up good numbers and being a part of the league’s title winning squad, Norman found himself once more cut this time two days before the start of the NBA season. Heartbroken, Norman played in Venezuela and the CBA before receiving a call up by the Detroit Pistons to replace an injured John Long in the line-up. Only Black hardly played. But as good fortune would have it, Norman was approached by Jimmy Mariano who was at that time the head coach of Great Taste Coffee in the PBA, during a Detroit Summer League game. Mariano offered a guaranteed four-month contract and Norman wondered what the Filipino saw in him since he saw few minutes on the court. But the offer intrigued him: “I needed to earn money to support my mom. I wanted to buy her a nice house and get a car but you have to remember, this was a time when the minimum NBA salary was $45,000. Jimmy Mariano’s contract paid more than that.”

When he got home, Norman looked up the Philippines in the encyclopedia and liked what he saw. “People spoke English fluently, there were American bases here at that time, and the weather was warm,” explained the coach of his decision to travel halfway across the world. “I’m from Baltimore where it’s cold so you can be sure the warm climate appealed to me.”

By the time Black returned Mariano’s call, Big Lew Massey had taken the job. Going back to Detroit’s camp, he was worried about finding a spot on Detroit’s roster for they had brought in Isaiah Thomas and Kelly Tripucka. With John Long back, Norman’s prospects for making the line-up looked bleak. “I thought I’d still try out and if I didn’t make it, I’d go back to the CBA and wait for another call up.” But it didn’t take long before another PBA club came calling.

Tefilin’s General Manager Frank Harn offered the same contract as Mariano and Black immediately took the offer. Unknown to Norman, Harn was the captain of Ateneo De Manila’s 1969 NCAA title team and it set into motion events that would eventually bring him back to the hill of Loyola Heights.

Next: The Pros, Vintage, and Ateneo De Manila

Author's note: It's been fun chatting with Norman Black. Over the past couple of years, the coach has been gracious with his comments, thoughts, and ideas about a lot of matters. I'm extremely grateful for his taking me into his confidence and behind-the-scenes of Ateneo basketball. Like Joe Lipa before, I thought that we have a winner of a coach when he became the 35th benchmaster in Blue Eagle history.

We talked for over an hour talking about his days in Baltimore and struggling to make the Washington Bullets line-up. We'll have more for you soon about his days as a PBA Import (hear him talk about Billy Ray Bates, Toyota-Crispa, Jun Bernardino, San Miguel, and other stuff), in the broadcast panel of Vintage Productions, and coming full circle with a Jesuit school in the Philippines.

Thanks, Coach Norm! Can't wait for the next session.

In the meantime, read this piece on his old teammate, Joe Pace.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/363308_pace16.html

Rating the 2008 PBA Draft

Rain or Shine (formerly Welcoat)
They added Gabe Norwood and TY Tang. They're loads better but still are a few pieces from making real noise.
Grade A

Talk N Text
They picked Jared Dillinger (who must have impressed in the workouts), traded Jay Washington for Jason Castro (to San Miguel), selected Rob Reyes and Pong Escobal. Okay, Coach Chot, you've got a very good team that's long and versatile. It time for this team to go places. Just make sure it's not down south.
Grade A+

Alaska
Solomon Mercado and Kelvin De La Peña. I don't know what to make of this squad. They're good. They play smart. But something seems to be missing. Perhaps another big time scorer to complement Willie Miller and the two draft picks aren't them. They'll slug it out for sure though.
Grade C

Air21
Mark Borboran and Cholo Villanueva. Already a very good team that only needs experience. They're deep, the Coach just needs to know how to manage his squad really well and yank Arwind Santos when he's self-destructing. But nice addition as a weapon Borboran is. Only now they have a glut of forwards of whom many need playing time.
Grade B-

Purefoods
Beau Belga and Jonathan Fernandez. PCU's bad boy who was axed by Dolphins Coach Joel Dualan (that's why he hasn't played in their last four games) should add some muscle inside except that this guy thinks he should be taking all the shots. How he blends in will be interesting. Fernandez is insurance for James Yap should he be not 100%.
Grade B

Magnolia
Bonbon Custodio and Jay Washington via trade. Time to get the new blood to take over, SMC. Or else why get them? These guys should help, but then they already have a very good squad; the problem is playing time and chemistry.
Grade B

Sta. Lucia
Kelvin Gregorio, Chito Jaime, and Christian Cabatu. The first two should help the squad as they gradualy move on for life without long time vets Marlou Aquino and Dennis Espino. But the new blood should step up big time because the two All-Stars carve up a lot of space and contribute much to this team's success.
Grade C+

Red Bull
Larry Rodriguez, Jeff Chan, and Mark Cuevas. More role players in a team filled with them. Expect Yeng Guiao to make the most of them.
Grade C-

Coca Cola and Ginebra. No picks.