Aaron Black fulfills championship dream in unexpected way
Meralco Bolts guard Aaron Black celebrates with his teammates after winning the PBA Philippine Cup title.–MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Meralco guard Aaron Black has fulfilled the dream of a lifetime although it didn’t go as he had dreamed it.
Black achieved his championship dreams on Sunday at Araneta Coliseum after the Bolts closed out San Miguel in six games for their first-ever PBA Philippine Cup championship.
Only he wasn’t playing on the floor when it happened.
“It’s pretty crazy,” said Black after their 80-78 victory over the Beermen in Game 6.
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“You imagine yourself on the floor [winning the title]. At the same time, I’m just thankful. I’ll take it and honestly it’s just more motivation to come back stronger and next conference [help them] make a run again.”
Black was on the Bolts’ bench that day, still nursing an ACL injury that he absorbed during Meralco’s game against Magnolia in the elimination round of the All-Filipino conference.
The Ateneo product would’ve loved to be of significant help to Meralco in helping it reach history but the shifty guard wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I’m just happy for the whole organization. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, especially guys like (Chris) New(some), Anjo (Caram), Cliff (Hodge) and CB (Chris Banchero).”
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“Very fulfilling. We had a crazy offseason, we came back pretty late because we had to rest from the EASL and all those games we played in the last conference. Coming back and starting bad wasn’t really ideal for us. Thankfully, we peaked at the right time and we were able to put our hard work through the conference.”
Other than winning a PBA title, Black is already ecstatic with the status of his injury.
Just a few months after the mishap, Black revealed that “everything’s good” so far with his recovery and he’s already making strides in the recovery phase.
Black eyes a return to the hardwood next season in the first conference of the league in the Governors’ Cup.
“I won’t know a lot ’til I see the doctor in the first week of July but right now I’m running, doing sides, getting my weights in so everything’s good.”
