SMART CLARK GIGA CITY--Like most Americans, coach Norman Black is hoping that newly-elected US president Joe Biden will bring unity to the deeply divided nation.
Biden, 77, has been projected by numerous networks to emerge as the 46th president of America after amassing 290 electoral votes against Donald Trump's 214 as of writing time.
His running mate Kamala Harris is set to make history as the first woman, first Black and first person of South Asian heritage to become a vice-president.
"Well, I'm happy. I voted for Biden. I'm a democrat. I come from the city of Baltimore, Maryland which is mostly democrat," said Black after his Meralco Bolts sneaked past the Terrafirma Dyip, 95-93, on Chris Newsome's buzzer-beating jumper on Sunday at the AUF Arena.
"I don't wanna say anything bad about anybody but I'm happy for the change in government," added the multi-titled mentor, whose team clinched a playoff berth with a 6-4 record.
The 62-year-old Black expressed his all-out support for Biden's bid "to restore the soul of America, to rebuild the backbone of this nation, the middle class and to make America respected around the world again and to unite us here at home."
"Well that's what it should always be about. It's the United States of America. It's not the 'Divided States of America'. And I can't understand why in the Trump (administration), it was just so divided. You have one group for red, one group for blue but we're all people, we're all citizens," he stressed.
"I hope that Biden can bring the country back together again. And if he can't make the Republicans love him, he can make them at least respect him."
Black's fellow American tactician Tim Cone of Barangay Ginebra echoed the same sentiment in a previous interview.
"Whoever wins, I hope he brings healing to the country. The US cannot afford more divisiveness," said the 62-year-old Cone, who was born in Oregon.