Mac Belo was beaming on the sidelines of the Meralco Gym in Pasig City on a rainy Wednesday night, moments after he and Gilas Pilipinas had squeaked past NLEX in an eventful tune-up game, 113-112.
But what made the six-foot-four utility forward more elated was that Wednesday night’s tune-up match was his first-ever basketball game after sitting out for nearly three months, due to a torn meniscus in his right knee.
“Na-miss ko maglaro,” said the Blackwater Elite rookie, whose last taste of a full-length match was in March 22 when Blackwater faced the Alaska Aces. “First game ko since na-injure ako, so masaya ako na makapaglaro ulit.
“[Pero] medyo nangangapa pa.”
And the proud son of Midsayap, North Cotabato, who gad returned to basketball-related activities with the Nationals exactly a week ago, is glad to let it be known that his knee problem has already been addressed.
“Clear na ‘ko sa doctor ko. Strengthening na lang tapos mga ganito basketball para masanay,” shared the Far Eastern University standout, after scoring nine points in the cadets’ win over the Road Warriors. “Tinutuloy ko lang yung strengthening, yung binibigay na program ng PT ko.”
Belo’s dark days are finally done and he could not be more upbeat about what lies ahead, especially now that he has been given an opportunity to don the country’s colors in the William Jones Cup in July.
It may be another tiring haul for Belo in the next couple of months, but he does not have any qualms about it, as those campaigns will only help him regain his old form that has been his career’s bread-and-butter.
“Masaya ako na nakabalik ulit ako sa Gilas.
“First tournament ko mula nung na-injure ako, kaya malaking tulong din sa’kin,” expressed the soft-spoken cager.
