If you have resources available at your disposal, then you use it to get what you want. That's seems to be the clear mantra of Aaron Black when he pursued a career in basketball and joined the Meralco Bolts team. Anything and everything Aaron Black has right now, former Bolts coach and dad Norman had a hand in it.
However, if anybody thinks that is an easy way to becoming a star player, then Black will dispute that. He knows what it takes. He's adamant about it. Even though many don't see the same.
"I know that's always gonna be there. I knew that the moment he drafted me," he answered when asked about unsubstantiated claims that his spot on Meralco is all because of his familial connections, and not by his own agency.
"More recently, I accepted it more. Everybody has an opinion and you can't please everybody. Thankfully, I've been in a mental state lately when I just use it as motivation."
While he's in a good place as of the moment, the younger Black said that early on in his pro career, he couldn't help but hear all the noise that he was only in the league because of his last name. That noise was then turned to max volume when he was recognized as the 2020 PBA Rookie of the Year.
The fact that Aaron put up per game counts of 6.6 points (38.9/34.7/69.2 shooting splits), 3.7 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for a Bolts side with legitimate title aspirations right after getting drafted 18th overall? Apparently, that was all because of Norman. The fact that his all-around game complemented Bolts top gun Chris Newsome's own versatility? Still, they said, because of his legend of a dad who won two championships and two Best Import awards in the PBA.
The thing is, 'Mr. 100%' wasn't supposed to coach the son who followed his footsteps in terms of basketball. He never had, even when the two of them were both in Ateneo de Manila University. Come the rookie selection process two years ago, Meralco had no plans of drafting the next-generation Black -- because they had thought he'd no longer be on the board when their first pick, which was already in the second round, rolled along.
Due to a broken hand right before the combine, however, Aaron's draft stock dropped by a bit. And lo and behold, with the 6th selection in the second round, the Bolts had an unexpected opportunity to say his name out loud. They did just that.
"My dad didn't tell me he was gonna draft me," recalled the younger Black, through chuckles. "Rain or Shine had told my agent they were drafting me at (number) seven of the first round, so it wasn't even a thought for us. Unfortunately, they didn't, and kinabahan na ako. Then Meralco was up, and I was thankful. I was thankful a team, any team, took a chance on me."
While, yes, having a last name like his, of course, had something to do with it, Black nonetheless took full advantage of the golden opportunity he was given. Whether it be expecting no preferential treatment during practices and games, or doing extra work via skills training program Better Basketball and conditioning program Aytona Performance, he is determined to fight for his right to be wearing orange and navy blue.
"Dad and I are really close, and it wasn't a problem at all, having to separate house and work. When it comes to the team, hopefully, we finally get over the hump," he remarked, referring to the Bolts' four runner-up finishes in the last six years before winning the 2024 All-Filipino Cup. "Meralco, the PBA, everybody understands my dad and I just wanna win. We're both here to win."
It was Norman who have him half of his genes. It was Norman who drafted him. It was Norman who made, and let him stay, as starter. All of those, though, were shots Aaron didn't put to waste, and put, instead, into work.
"It's hard to compare us because he had a season when he averaged 50 points or something," he remarked, with a laugh. "For me, the thing from him I look up to the most are the championships. That's what he'll be remembered for. Hopefully, that's what I'll be remembered for, too."
Yes, Norman Black had a hand in it, but Aaron Black is here -- and here to stay -- because of Aaron Black.
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