Happy Birthday, Norman Black ( Nov 12 )

Happy Birthday, Norman Black

"Old Black Magic"
Saint Joseph Hawks' forward
2x PBA champion as import
11x PBA champion as coach
2x PBA Best Import
5x UAAP champion as coach
4-PBA team player
9-season PBA veteran
PBA 10,000 point club member

Source : Assorted Magazines (PBA Archives Collections)

NORMAN BLACK The Only NBA Veteran Among The Imports
By JOAQUIN HENSON ( Sports Weekly Magazine )

Tefilin recruit Norman Black has the distinction of being the only Philippine Basketball Association second conference import who has played in the American major league. But Black cannot really be considered a tried-and-tested pro from the National Basketball Association. After all, the swingman from St. Joseph's College played in only three games for the Detroit Pistons this past season. The combined 28-minute exposure was hardly enough to allow Black to score more than four points in a single contest. Black, a 6-6 forward with the added ability to perform in the backcourt, finished his varsity career as St. Joseph's second all-time leading scorer, two points behind retired pro Cliff Anderson, Black compiled 1726 points in four years as a regular for the Philadelphia school. At Cardinal Gibbons high school in Baltimore, Black combined with center Rob Valderas to average 35 points and 25 rebounds between them. Both decided to enroll at St. Joseph's College in 1975. Black quickly established himself as a hard-nosed scorer and rebounder. As a freshman, he averaged 16.9 points and 9.5 rebounds. The varsity Hawks improved slightly from 8-17 to 10-16 in Black's rookie season. Highlights of the campaign included a 4-1 league record and first place in the Eastern Division of the East Coast Conference and sharing the Phila- delphia Big Five title with Villanova. Black impressed the critics by leading the varsity in scoring despite his rookie status.