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MANILA - For Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles coach Norman Black, this season’s title romp is far sweeter than last year. Not even a sweep of their arch-rival De La Salle Green Archers last season – his first UAAP title – can top this one.

“This is really sweet for me,” said Black after winning his second UAAP title last Thursday.

“When you look back at my stay in Ateneo, everything pretty much started with the three guys who are graduating this year – Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Jai Reyes,” he added. “They're the three guys who've been with me since they've been in college. The entire focus was to dedicate the championship to them.”

Black, together with then rookies Al-Hussaini and Reyes, joined the Eagles in 2005. A year later, Baclao joined the duo to form the three-piece cornerstone of the second back-to-back UAAP championship in team history.

“When I first saw Nonoy Baclao playing for West Negros College (WNC) during the 2005 Unigames, I told myself, I should get this kid,” recalled Black.

It took Black two trips to Bacolod City to talk with the WNC president to get Baclao’s services. After sitting out the 2006 season, Baclao suited up in 2007 and became the defensive anchor of the back-to-back championship teams.

Tried and tested

While Al-Hussaini dominated inside and Reyes launched three-pointers outside, Baclao was on the other side busy swatting and altering the opponents’ shots.

It was Black’s tried and tested formula: deliberate basketball anchored on defense and an inside-outside combo that exploits mismatches in the offensive end.

“After winning last year, I told you this team would be much better. And they proved it,” said Black, who only lost team skipper Chris Tiu and back-up guard Yuri Escueta last season.

Black said they were so focused this year that they wanted their graduating players to end their collegiate careers on a bright note.

Mission accomplished

The three seniors, for their part, were never short of grateful words to their coach, who mentored them for the past five years.

“Wala ako dito ngayon kung hindi dahil sa kaniya Black,” Al-Hussaini said.

Baclao said he will not forget Black, who made him a big collegiate star from being a countryside hero in Bacolod.

“Si coach Norman ang nagbigay ng break sa akin dito. Hindi niya ako pinabayaan. He was always there to motivate us especially at times na minamaliit namin yung kalaban,” said Baclao.

“We wanted to win together. Gusto naming mag-graduate na champion. Sana maibahagi namin kung anumang nagawa namin this year para sa team next year,” added Reyes.

Al-Hussaini, meantime, could not hold back his pent-up emotions. He shouted “Thank you! I’ll treasure this one. Back-to-back!”

Mission accomplished. Black weaved his magic anew.

At the helm

In the PBA, Black was a grand slam coach. In the UAAP, he’s now a back-to-back champion coach.

“Next year is a little bit of a question mark,” said the American mentor, citing the exodus of his veteran trio. “I won't be making any predictions right now because I'm not particularly sure.”

But one thing is for certain. With Black at the helm, the Blue Eagles will still find a way to wage “One Big Fight!”

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