The Man Behind Black: Sandy Arespacochaga

Student ID# 092856

Ms. Iriz Astillero

En11 R11

“The Man Behind Black: Sandy Arespacochaga”

If you look at history closely, you may say that in truth, no one who has ever attained success did it alone. The same goes for Coach Norman Black of the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Behind this famous basketball figure is a quiet, fun-loving, easy-going man who goes by the name of Sandy Arespacochaga. Fondly referred to as “Sands” by his close associates, Coach Sandy has been the Assistant Coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles for 11 years now, and he has no intention of quitting the job any time soon.

Even before Coach Sandy joined the staff of the Ateneo Blue Eagles, he had already been part of the Ateneo de Manila University’s basketball history. Back in the years 1989-1992, when he was still a student in the semi-honors section J of the Ateneo de Manila High School, he was a member of the PAYA Aspirants basketball team during his sophomore year, and during his junior and senior year, he played for the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eaglets UAAP Men’s basketball team. He then moved on to college, where he took up AB IS (Interdisciplinary Studies) and still, he continued to play the game of basketball as part of the 1992-1997 Ateneo Blue Eagles UAAP Men’s basketball team.

Right after graduation he went straight to the coaching scene. He was made the head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets from 1998-2000 and it was during this time, that he was assigned to be an assistant coach in the Ateneo Blue Eagles UAAP Men’s basketball team. Since then, Coach Sandy Arespacochaga has gone through many memorable experiences with the team, which I’m sure die hard Blue Eagle fans are never going to forget.

One of the more memorable years was back in 2004, UAAP Season 67. It was during this time that Coach Sandy Arespacochaga was asked to move up to the spot of head coach because the former head coach was no longer with the Ateneo Blue Eagles. Despite being the new guy on the job, Coach Sandy was helped by a background of being the head coach of the Ateneo Blue Eaglets back in 1998-2000 coupled with several years experience as an assistant head coach to be able to lead the team to the finals, only to lose to DLSU. Even though this was a bitter defeat, Coach Sandy and the rest of the team walked away with their heads held high knowing that they had still come away with something worthwhile and the hope of a brighter future.

This hope came in the form of Coach Norman Black. When he took over the job of head coach, Sandy immediately resumed his post as the assistant head coach, and since then, the Ateneo Blue Eagles have not missed a finals appearance and we just recently won the championship last year, beating DLSU in 2 games.

Despite all his fame and fortune however within the Ateneo basketball community, Coach Sandy is still a very normal, down to earth person just like us, and by normal I mean aside from all the attention he devotes to basketball his goals and outlook on life are pretty much what the average man would have as well.

I had the pleasure of being able to interview him personally just last weekend, and these are some of the things he had to say to me concerning his personal life.

The first question I asked him was what first got him interested in the Ateneo de Manila University’s basketball program and his reply was, “I first saw the Blue Eagles as an amazing team which won back to back titles in 1987 & 1988 but aside from all the glory, I saw this coaching opportunity as a chance to do the things I love the most which are teaching and basketball.” Coach Sandy, during the off season, is a part time teacher in the Ateneo de Manila High School in the subject of Araling Panlipunan and he does this because of his love for teaching.

I then asked him what he says are the pros and cons of working as an assistant head coach and his reply was that, “To have a job that you love doing is the best thing that can happen to you for a career, however no job is easy and proof of that is when we practice from 6pm-9pm regularly. Also there are times when the alumni place to much pressure on the team and try to get involved with the team’s affairs. The thing I hate most is when Ateneans act un-Atenean because I love this school and its what it stands for and it pains me to see some act otherwise.”

Lastly, I wanted him to site any accomplishment during his coaching years which he is proud of, and then he gave me the several names of titles which they’ve won in the past such as back to back UAAP juniors division titles, the ASEAN championship, and many more, but what he is really looking for in life is much like what any other man would want – a family. He is married to Mrs. Ria Ramos Arespacochaga and even though they are yet to have children, he considers all his students both in basketball and in the Ateneo de Manila High School to be his responsibility as if they were his own.

This is the life of a man who has followed his heart through all his endeavors and decision in life and is living true happiness doing the things he loves for a living. What is a life without love, since you haven’t truly lived until you have experienced love?

Emmanuel Jose M. Pavia