Mac Belo clearly wants to be with Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers’ first window this February.
Unfortunately, though, the circumstances do not allow the Blackwater Elite main man to participate.
Belo has pulled out from the pool, since he is currently treading the road to recovery from a knee injury.
The 26-year-old regrets the missed opportunity, as he has been raring to go to work with the national team.
“Sa part ko malungkot kasi ‘yung ganoong chance, bihira lang dumating. Nagkataon din na dumating ‘yun, injured ako. Sayang,” lamented the cager from Midsayap, North Cotabato.
“Imbes na makatulong din ako sa kanila, o matulungan ko sila sa improvement. Nakakahinayang din.”
The 6-foot-4 forward out of Far Eastern University is now the third player to withdraw from the pool, next to veteran internationalists Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar.
The Fil-German bruiser — whom the team has enlisted as its naturalized player — cited knee problems. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-9 Ginebra star begged off for his honeymoon, since he got married recently.
Now with three frontcourters out, coach Mark Dickel is left with Marc Pingris, Troy Rosario, Poy Erram, Isaac Go and Justine Baltazar as options once he comes up with the final lineup.
Gilas has indeed lost viable choices, but Belo pointed out the essence of having a pool of players to pick from. He also remains confident that those remaining are capable of getting the job done.
“Malaki naman ang tiwala ko sa kanila dahil talented lahat ng nasa pool,” said the incoming fourth-year pro.
“Maganda nga ‘yung ganoong program. Nandoon na sila sa pool, madali na lang. Hindi na kukuha kung saan. Maganda ‘yun dahil mas madaling buuin ‘yung chemistry. Alam ko naman na kaya nila.”
