Ateneo vs La Salle

By Jonas Terrado - Manila Bulletin - September 17, 2008

Friendship takes a backseat.

In the past, Norman Black and Franz Pumaren will be setting aside mementos of friendship and tokens of gratitude starting Sunday when the forces of fate call on them to take up arms and go to war against each other.

Black will carry the flag for the Ateneo Blue Eagles and Pumaren will wave the banner for the De La Salle Green Archers, and their battlefield will be the 2008 UAAP Finals, a best-of-three showdown that could bring forth the best and the worst from college basketball’s most celebrated arch enemies.

But for one brief encounter yesterday, before tradition-fed animosity and hostility take over sworn allegiance and happy memories, Black and Pumaren shared a table, a few laughs and a general feeling of camaraderie as guests in the PSA Forum at Shakey’s Pizza on U.N. Avenue.

And a few days before anticipation, second-guessing and planning ahead become the demands of the event, looking back and reminiscing had both coaches locked in embrace with their glorious past.

"Franz played for me and I played with him for 12 years," Black recalled.

"We know each other pretty well, we have a long history but as you know there’s a big difference between green and blue in this country."

The two started out with San Miguel Beer in the PBA during the late-1980s as Black steered the Beermen to nine championships with Pumaren as his backup point guard to Hector Calma.

Pumaren also became the frequent recipient of Black’s outlet passes when the many-time Best Import suited up as the Beermen’s reinforcement on a number of conferences.

The pair cemented their partnership in 1989 when San Miguel completed the PBA’s third Grand Slam.

After the two left SMB in 1996, they spent time with Mobiline when Black took over as coach while Pumaren played for one season before retiring after the 1997 season to coach La Salle.

Later on, Black hired Pumaren as his assistant with Sta Lucia Realty where they eventually won the Governors Cup in 2001, ironically against their former club.

"One advantage of working with him for the last many years is that I know a lot of secrets," Pumaren said, laughing and hastening to add, "don’t get me wrong, secrets in basketball."

Pumaren clarified: "Being a player, a teammate and as an assistant coach, I learned a lot from him. There’s no substitute for being around somebody with so much experience and knowledge."

Although favored to win the title after coasting to a 13-1 record in the elimination round and then drubbing University of the East in the Final Four, Black said La Salle is anything but a pushover.

"UE was favored last season when they were swept by La Salle, and they are the defending champions. They know how to play, they are well-coached and we have to be ready," Black said.

Pumaren said the Green Archers are the underdogs, but not by choice.

"If you look at the teams that I handled, I don’t think we have a dominant team it’s just that during this stretch," said Pumaren. "We always try to set a notch higher and the more games that we play, the more experience we gain. I think that’s our advantage at this stage."

Black brushes off the tag, as well.

"When you talk about underdogs, actually that’s you guys who put label on us," Black told sportswriters. "I think both Franz and I we respect each other’s teams. We know the game is going to be won on the basketball court and not by labels or titles before the series even starts.

"No matter if you are favored or the underdog you have to show up on Sunday and play. We’ll let you guys label us and all but we have to prove it once the series starts."

After the departure of TY Tang and Cholo Villanueva, Pumaren was relieved to reach the finals with a roster that revolved around JV Casio and Rico Maierhofer.

"Before the season, I don’t think we were really rated highly because of the graduation of some players, but we were able to survive so I think we were fortunate to play in the finals despite the loss of key players," he said.

Black, who led the Loyola-based squad to the finals in 2006, said that this year’s team has put more emphasis on defensive compared to the more offense-oriented squad of two seasons ago led by JC Intal and Macky Escalona.

"The team in 2006 was a better offensive team but defensively we’re probably an average team. I think we are much better defensively this time," Black said when he compared the two teams.