Mac Belo admitted that it was all frustration for his part that led to an exchange of words with Greg Slaughter during the Blackwater Elite’s match with the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Friday evening in Biñan, Laguna.
With 1:19 left in the third quarter, the sophomore forward reacted to some contact made by the returning seven-footer off a rebound play, and he showed his displeasure by apparently flashing a finger right in the face of Slaughter.
Belo was then whistled for a technical foul for second motion. And adding insult to injury, the Elite lost by a wide margin, 91-105 — their fifth straight loss.
“Part of the game na lang. Medyo na-frustrate na rin kasi medyo bukol yung mga tira,” admitted the 25-year-old forward, who only had four points on 10 shots. “[Tsaka] malaki siya, siguro napasok lang sa isip ko kasi siyempre natamaan din ako eh.
“Pero wala lang yun.”
Given his actions, the Far Eastern University product experienced the wrath of the Barangay’s hostile fans, receiving plenty of jeers and boos. But Belo brushed it off, saying that he did not let it get in his head.
“Wala. Hindi ko na pinansin. Nag-ano lang sila… Paglalambing lang.”
But then, the game and the spat are already over. And for the sophomore, there are more important things to focus on, and one of it is working on their dynamics with new head coach Bong Ramos, as they all aim to end their winless streak.
“Mahirap kasi yung transition eh. Pero it’s not a reason naman. Sabi nga ng manager namin, it’s a process. Marami pa kaming dapat iimprove with Coach Bong,” shared the native of Midsayap, Cotabato. “Kailangan lang namin magwork as a team.
“Yung inaano namin ngayon, kailangan namin ibuild yung character namin as winners. Kailangan namin magimprove as a team with Coach Bong. Kailangan buo kami, dapat nasa isang page lang kami. Yun yung winowork namin.”
