Champion coach Black wants PHL to keep SEAG gold

The Philippines has dominated the Southeast Asian Games' men's basketball competition, where it has won 14 of the 15 times the event was played in the biennial sporting conclave.

The Philippines only lost the gold medal once, back in 1989 when host Malaysia topped the competitions. That is why multi-titled coach Norman Black doesn’t want to become the second Philippine team mentor that failed to win the gold. "I know that we’ve dominated this tournament since the beginning, but at the same time, I want to make sure that we don’t lose under my watch," said Black, who was recently appointed to handle the SEA Games men’s basketball team to the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia. There were also two other times (off court) that the Philippines didn't win a gold medal in men's basketball, but that was because basketball wasn't in the calendar of events. The country was suspended by FIBA when it hosted the SEA Games in 2005, while the absence of a suitable basketball venue prompted Laos to drop the event in 2009. The national men's basketball team to the 2011 SEA Games will be composed mostly of collegiate standouts. Black, who has won in all fronts of local basketball from the collegiate to the professional ranks, will handle the national team for the first time since an all-pro squad competed in Hiroshima for the 1994 Asian Games. Black wants to form a running team and said that he wants to inject his system as early as possible since some of the players are still playing for their schools. "I'll make sure that the team is well-trained and the team understands and knows the system as quickly as possible so that when we get to the SEA Games, we will be able to continue to be successful," said Black. Black added that it is important for the team to learn his system as quickly as possible. "When the collegiate league starts, we will probably be meeting only once a week, so it's important that they understand the system. I want to teach the system so that if we go back in October, they will be familiar with the system," Black said. Even though the Philippines dominated Southeast Asian basketball, Black doesn’t want to take the other countries lightly, especially with the formation of the ASEAN Basketball League where six teams – including the Philippine Patriots – are competing. "You can never really take the competition for granted especially now that we already have an ABL. They are now exposed to better basketball and the other countries have been improving their basketball program," Black said. A total of 16 players participated in the first of a series of tryouts for the national team. The notables include Smart Gilas players Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter and Aldrech Ramos, and collegiate standouts UAAP Most Valuable Player RR Garcia of Far Eastern University, and San Sebastian's Calvin Abueva and Ian Sangalang. Black said that he expects a good turnout in the next few days that might include Chris Tiu, who has already expressed interest to join the SEAG-bound team. Also expected to participate in the SEA Games tryouts is Fil-Am Chris Newsome, a 6-foot-2 guard from New Mexico. Newsome, born to an American father and a Filipina mother, is expected to suit up for Ateneo when he finishes his residency in two years. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMANews.TV