Prior to Friday, Mac Belo was just averaging 7.8 points per game. But come Friday evening, the sophomore forward doubled his production.
The 6-foot-4 Belo produced 14 markers alongside five rebounds to help the Blackwater Elite come from behind and earn a 94-91 victory over the struggling Allen Durham and the Meralco Bolts.
Though it was Paul Zamar who nailed the game-winning trey, there is no denying the impact Belo had in the game.
When the Elite climbed back from a nine-point deficit with 5:39 left in the final frame, Belo had a hand in his team’s 15-4 scoring blitz, which gave Blackwater an 86-84 edge with 1:58 to go.
And when the Bolts managed to tie the game up at 88-all with a minute and five seconds left, Belo stepped up by sinking a triple from the wing to lift his side to a 91-88 lead with 56.9 ticks remaining.
Belo’s Friday outing could be considered his finest game as far as impact is concerned, knowing that he has already been hounded by knee and back injuries in his young career.
“Well, actually si Mac kasi napakabait na bata niyan. Pasahan yan, nagbubuwaya yung mga kasama, libre siya, hindi pinasahan, okay lang siya,” said head coach Bong Ramos of the FEU Tamaraw.
“Pero once na nagkaroon siya ng chance, naka-focus lang siya parati sa bola.”
