Black: Salamat, Eric

IN THE past three UAAP seasons, it has become an almost sacred ritual for Ateneo head coach Norman Black and myself to get together for a post championship evaluation and to discuss some other matters of interest.  Last Monday, it was our third time for the annual rap session, Norman having accomplished a “three-peat” for the Blue Eagles this season. He has been head coach of the Blue Eagles for five years, was a consultant a year before that.
Norman is the same fellow who keeps telling me that a coach is only as good as his last victory. But last Monday, he admitted a three-peat would relieve him much of the stress that goes with coaching a high-profile team like Ateneo, which has zealous, highly involved alumni fans.
Actually, Norman was on the hot seat only in his first two years. After he won his first UAAP title in 2008, “things quieted down.”
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Norman said he has so many people to thank for this year’s championship. If he had to choose only one, though, it would be his point guard Eric Salamat, a personal recruit from San Sebastian College, who has been instrumental in their victory.
“For the sake of the team, Eric unselfishly took a back seat in the finals. We explained to him beforehand that we needed a change in strategy in order to win, and that this would entail using him sparingly. RR Garcia, you see, is our biggest problem on the Tamaraws bench and we had to use Emman Monfort to neutralize him. Eric agreed without question and even encouraged us to do the necessary changes for us to win,” said Norman, who pointed out that Eric is not only the team’s top scorer but also the No. 1 in assists and steals.
 “I am very thankful to Eric for his unselfishness. Salamat, Eric.”
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“Although there is no dominant player in the Ateneo lineup this season, Salamat is the acknowledged leader,” according to UAAP Press Corps president Jasmine W. Payo of the Inquirer. 
“He’s second overall in the league in steals and third overall in assists; definitely one of the league’s most talented guards. He has been a standout since high school, when he was still playing with San Sebastian,” Jasmine said.
Olmin Leyba of the Philippine Star also praised Salamat for his leadership: “He didn’t score much, although he was the team’s top scorer. His value to the team was his leadership. He was the court general of the Blue Eagles.”
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ALA Promotions and Viva Artists Agency of Vic Del Rosario’s Viva Entertainment Group signed a deal at the Cebu Grand Hotel last Friday hoping to boost the careers of WBO minimum weight champion Donnie Nietes, AJ “Bazooka” Banal and Rey “Boom Boom” Bautista. 
Del Rosario, a certified boxing fan, has long wanted to market boxers like celebrities, opening their doors to things such as product endorsements maybe even showbiz stints.
In fact, Nietes said he was open to singing and dancing on TV, while Bautista admitted he wants to become an action star like Robin Padilla. 
Their priority, however, is winning world titles for the country. 
Perhaps the new deal will boost efforts to stage a Nietes title defense in the Philippines instead of the champion having to defend his title in hostile Mexico as he has done three times already.