READY TO back up the strength of the Blue Eagles’ arsenal is Aaron Black, who made his debut on the court once again in the second face-off of the Blue and White with the Red Warriors last Wednesday, October 19 at the San Juan Arena.

The swingman’s foot injury took a toll on his play during the University Athletics Association of the Philippines (UAAP) first round elimination match against the Far Eastern University Tamaraws , where he entered the game for exactly two minutes in the first quarter, and contributed only two points during the game.

Black’s misfortune kept him on the bench with a walking boot, as he watched his team mates complete the rest of the first round of elimination games without him on the court. The injury-laden Blue Eagle was all the while determined to hasten the healing process in order to join his team in soaring back to the final four.

“I just started to strengthen my foot, I was doing weights. Basically, all that I was thinking of at that time was getting back,” said Black. “There were some days of course, where your foot was not where it was supposed to be that day, but that’s all I thought about. I [want to] come back and help the team to reach the final four.”

Prior to the game against the Red Warriors, the Blue Eagles incurred two consecutive losses against the undefeated De La Salle Green Archers and the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons. Black recalls that watching these games all the more fired up his yearning to see action once again.

“I felt bad that we lost two games in a row. I’ve never seen myself so intense on the bench,” said Black.

In the most recent game against the Red Warriors, Black entered the game during the first quarter in place of starter Anton Asistio. Although he was unable to score by the first half, he contributed to the team’s play with three assists as he started to feel the game once again. The second half then saw the swingman taking baby steps by making his first basket in the fourth quarter and following it with a layup.

As Black tasted the feeling once again of playing alongside his Blue Eagle team mates, he never felt happier and more determined to improve himself in the following matches.

“I’m still doing strengthening for my foot, I still need to totally get back into playing shape. I don’t think I’m there yet.”