San Miguel Beermen sporting retro jerseys, that Norman Black (right) wore in the 80s, for the PBA 50th anniversary game. –MARLO CUETO/PBA SCREENGRAB
Meralco team consultant Norman Black was hit with a wave of nostalgia Wednesday night during the PBA’s 50th anniversary celebration at Rizal Memorial Coliseum.
The Bolts, despite absorbing a 110-98 loss at the hands of the San Miguel Beermen, rocked their uniforms from the 1971 MICAA season.
READ: PBA: San Miguel beats Meralco in throwback-themed clash
They sported an all-orange kit with yellow and white linings on the upper part of the jersey—a complete revival of the ‘71 threads.
Coincidentally, Black felt even more nostalgia—not from the Bolts’ uniforms, but from the opposing side’s kit.
And why wouldn’t he? Black rocked that same exact style in 1982 when he was an import for San Miguel Beer.
Meralco Bolts rocking their own retro jersey for the PBA’s 50th anniversary game. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
“Those particular jerseys tonight, I think I wore those in ’82. At least, it was the same style that we wore… That was very familiar to me because I played during that time, and I actually played in those jerseys,” said Black, who was smiling despite the Bolts’ defeat.
“It was a bad feeling losing the game tonight to those jerseys, but at the same time, it was great to be a part of it.”
Black was seeing memories after memories inside the historic Manila complex as the Beermen took the floor, complete with white upper kits and red shorts.
READ: PBA: June Mar Fajardo wants more retro in the future
Meralco team consultant Norman Black is very familiar with the San Miguel Beermen’s jerseys tonight! #PBA50 | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/BkOCRBIhi5
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) April 9, 2025
Seeing San Miguel Beer bring back the threads he used to wear brought back waves of the past for Black.
“I also won my first championship [with those jerseys] under Tommy Manotoc in the Invitationals,” he recalled.
“I’m on the other side now, so I wasn’t thinking they’d win in those jerseys.”
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It was also in those white-clad jerseys that Black won his first-ever Best Import of the Conference award and his first title in the Philippines’ premier basketball league.
After his run as a PBA player—where he won two titles and two Best Import awards—Black continued his career in the league as a coach and, now, as a consultant for Meralco.
