Black tapos na ang stress sa SEAG

MANILA, Philippines — Hindi biro ang pinagdaanan ni coach Norman Black bago ang mata­gumpay na pagdedepensa ng Pilipinas sa men’s basketball championship sa nakaraang 33rd Southeast Asian Games sa Thailand.

Apat na buwan bago ang biennial event na nagsimula noong Disyembre 9 at natapos noong Dis­yembre 20 ay wala pang kumpletong Gilas Pilipinas lineup si Black.

Bukod pa ito sa gina­wang estratehiya ng Thailand kaugnay sa ipapatupad nilang patakaran sa hanay ng mga natura­lized players kagaya nina Justin Brownlee at Ange Kouame.

“I formed a team, only to be told I couldn’t use that team. And then when I formed another team, I was told I couldn’t use certain players,” wika ni Black. “So I couldn’t really understand the eligibility rules in the tournament.”

Hindi inaprubahan ng Thailand SEA Games Organizing Committee ang paglalaro nina Brownlee at Koaume sa Gilas Pilipinas.

Para hindi masilip ng Thailand ang Gilas Pilipinas roster ay mas minabuti ni Black na huwag makipag-usap sa media.

“I decided I wasn’t going to mention anything publicly anymore, because they’re using our information against us,” sabi ng 68-anyos na two-time PBA champion player at two-time PBA Best Import.

Sa huli ay nabuo ni Black ang tropa nina Ray Ray Parks Jr., Jamie Ma­lon­zo, Robert Bolick, Thirdy Ravena, Poy Erram, Dalph Panopio, Abu Tratter, Matthew Wright, Von Pessu­mal, Justin Chua, Cedrick Manzano at Veejay Pre.

Tinalo ng Nationals ang Thailand sa finals, 70-64, para angkinin ang ika-20 SEA Games basketball gold medal.

“When you’ve gone through what we’ve gone through to get up to this point, adversity doesn’t seem that hard. We basically just go out and fight and pull together,” ani Black. “I’m glad it turned out for the best,” dagdag ng 11-time PBA champion coach tampok ang Grand Slam noong 1989 para sa San Miguel.