FOR 37 years, Meralco coach Norman Black stood as stepfather to former PBA player Chris Tan. Now part of the coaching staff of Black with the Bolts, Tan said Black is more than just a stepfather to him.
“Kasi ‘yung relationship namin naging ideal dahil I grew up with him,” said Tan, whose mother Benjie became the PBA Grand Slam-winning coach's wife when Tan was seven years old. “He has been my father, basically, for 37 years now. Tapos nagkaroon kami ng same love because of basketball.”
The 44-year-old Tan recalled the first time he encountered Black.
“Actually, nagulat ako kasi biglang dumating sa bahay tapos nag-bilyar kami,” said Tan. “Sabi ng mom ko una, kaibigan. Tapos nalaman ko na boyfriend pala niya. My mom was separated with my biological father. A year later, they said na they were going to get married.”
Black got married on January 15, 1984 – on Tan’s seventh birthday.
“According to them, it was because para hindi makalimutan ‘yung birthday ko. Pero sabi ko, gusto lang nila makatipid,” said Tan, smiling. “Transition was okay. Never naman ako nagkaroon ng issue. As long as my mother was happy.”
Tan said it was Black who taught him the basics of basketball, which eventually led to him getting a spot with the La Salle Green Archers in the UAAP. He also played for the Batangas Blades and the Cebu Gems in the defunct Metropolitan Basketball Association (MBA).
Tan eventually played for Sta. Lucia, where he played under Black in 2001. The Realtors sealed the Governors’ Cup title in Game Six when Tan hit a three-pointer with three seconds left to take the victory, 75-72.
“Actually, the only dream that I had playing in the PBA was to win a championship with him," Tan said. "Kaya nung nangyari na ‘yun, I was thinking of retiring na. Ayoko na dapat. Pero siyempre, dahil ikaw nagpa-champion, ikaw nakatira, binigyan ako ni boss Buddy (Encarnado) ng magandang kontrata so I was fine with that. I’ve always wanted to finish my career with him.”
After retiring from basketball, Tan stayed involved with the sport by bringing in imports such as Denzel Bowles and Diamon Simpson.
Black later offered Tan a job as part of the coaching staff, convincing him to give it a try.
Tan said he's learning a lot about coaching from Black, an 11-time PBA champion with a Grand Slam in 1989 under his belt.
“Ako naman, tulong lang. Whatever knowledge that I have, tulong ko sa kanya. Foremost for me is learning from him on how to deal with players. Iba ‘yung player sa coach. Kapag player, ikaw naglalaro. Kapag coaching, sasabihin mo, bahala sila maglaro.”
This constant education reminds Tan of the time when he was getting to know his stepdad.
"I was learning basketball from him. Now, it’s different. It’s learning how to coach and how to deal with your players kasi malaking bagay ‘yun. Siya kasi, magaling siya doon. Galit na galit na siya pero malumanay pa rin."
Tan, whose current goal is to win a championship with Black as a coach, said that he remains appreciative and grateful of the impact his stepfather has had in his life, more so today that he's also a dad himself.
“I can’t say anything na sayang,” said Tan, referring to growing up without his biological father. “He stepped in and para sa akin, he portrayed the role of being a biological father.”
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