Ever since he had surgery to repair his torn meniscus, Mac Belo was never completely absent from Gilas Pilipinas’ practices, as he watched intensely from the sidelines and soaked up all the knowledge he could get.
This injury, the first major injury in his young career, was just a minor setback for Belo’s major comeback.
Wednesday afternoon, the 24-year-old was fast to tie up his shoes. He was about to make his first practice with any team since April.
“Still in recovery pa rin pero everyday nagiging mas okay naman,” the native of Midsayap, Cotabato said. “Sumasabay na ko kasi may mga ibang movement pa na medyo alanganin so magandang preparation ito para sa full recovery.
“Sobrang masaya ako kasi matagal din ako nawala sa basketball so talagang excited talaga ako na… Kahit nung before pa ko ma-injury parang gusto ko na maglaro,” added Belo, who played just three games during the Commissioner’s Cup and missing the SEABA Championship.
However, unlike their preparation for the SEABA tourney, Belo’s return to the hard court of the Meralco Gym saw a lot of new faces. No longer were players like June Mar Fajardo, Calvin Abueva, and Terrence Romeo present, as Gilas young guns like Kiefer Ravena, Kobe Paras, Raymar Jose, and Christian Standhardinger were the ones practicing with him.
And the Gilas cadet was proud to see the next batch of cadets practicing with the pioneer class, noting that the learning experience is mutual among both groups.
“Masaya ako kasi sila Ray [Parks], malaki din yung naitulong nila, yung mga training nila so madadala din nila dito sa Gilas tsaka si Christian, yung bago, sila Kobe,” the 6-foot-4 forward shared.
“Masaya ako na kasabay ako sa practice nila. Alam kong marami akong matutunan.”
But with the SEA Games team already announced, the former UAAP Finals MVP is not worrying himself on whether he will be part of the FIBA Asia Cup team. The only goal he has in mind is to get back into game shape.
“Depende na lang sa desisyon ni coach Chot [Reyes]. Si Coach Chot na nakakaalam nun,” the FEU alumnus said.
“Yung iniisip ko nalang ngayon kung paano ako bumalik at siyempre kung kailan magiging one hundred-percent na makalaro na.”
