Meralco Bolts head coach Norman Black has several recruits during his stint as Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles’ mentor, but the one who stood out for him is Bacolodnon center Siverino Baclao.
Speaking during the recent Hoop Coaches International Webinar hosted by Blackwater, Black shared how he managed to bring Baclao to the Blue Eagles program.
Black said: “We played in the University Games in Bacolod, and (STI-West Negros University) was one of the teams participating. Baclao was about six-foot-five but was so skinny.”
“He was just a skinny kid at that time. I think he was in his first year in college. He was blocking everybody’s shot,” the coach added. “Anybody coming to the basket, he was just throwing it away.”
The Bolts tactician was left impressed with Baclao’s defensive, so the former immediately placed the latter in the radar.
“I was talking to (Ateneo team manager) Paolo Trillo. I said, ‘Boy, it would be nice to have a guy like that in our team. All that we would have to do is to get him to eat a little bit so he could fill out and gain some weight.’”
Black recalled that he started recruiting Baclao by talking to STI-WNU owner Tony Agustin and then going back and forth to the “City of Smiles.”
“Finally we were able to get him to come to Ateneo. I was just so happy when we were able to recruit him,” he added. “Obviously, Baclao was a big part in helping us win championships.”
Black and Baclao’s relationship ran deep. Now that the both are part of Meralco, they have chances to rekindle the Ateneo-kind of success they enjoyed.
“He’s also part of Meralco now. Hopefully, he’ll be well by the end of June,” said Black of Baclao, who’s still recovering from a knee injury he sustained last season with the Alaska Aces./PN
