Having been an Far Eastern University legend due to his epic game-winning buckets that lifted the Tamaraws to two straight UAAP Finals appearances, Mac Belo’s end-game heroics have been highly-anticipated in the pro ranks.
The 25-year-old had the chance to become the Elite’s savior on Sunday night, when the Blackwater Elite took on the NLEX Road Warriors at the Philippine Arena.
With the Elite down by just three with less than 10 seconds left, Belo pulled up for a game-tier. Unfortunately, his triple missed, and Blackwater bowed to the now playoff-bound Road Warriors, 93-90.
“Wala eh,” said the sophomore forward, who admitted that he had been left with no choice but to take that shot, as shooters Mike Di Gregorio and Allein Maliksi were quickly denied.
“Ako yung na-open. Eh sobrang challenged, ‘di na-shoot.”
More than the missed shot, the loss was more difficult to take for Belo and the Elite because it dampens their playoff chances. They now sport a 4-6 slate and have gone down to the 10th spot in the rankings.
“Tough loss sa amin to kasi ito talaga yung very important game para sa amin,” lamented the Midsayap, North Cotabato-born cager, as Blackwater’s quarterfinals fate is now beyond their control. “Mahirap.”
And that is why their final assignment in the eliminations, which will be against the Phoenix Fuel Masters this coming Wednesday, February 21, is a must-win situation, or else they might have to kiss the quarterfinals goodbye.
“Going to next game, kailangan focus pa rin kami. Kailangan namin ipanalo yung last game against Phoenix,” said the second-year forward.
“Basta kami trabahuhin namin yung next game namin. Kailangan namin manalo.”
