Meralco head coach Norman Black looks forward to seeing the impact Mac Belo can bring to the Bolts, as the ball club welcomed its newest member Thursday following the PBA’s approval of their trade with Blackwater.
In a statement, the Grand Slam-winning bench tactician said that they made a move to acquire the services of the versatile 6-foot-4 forward to deepen their vastly-improved frontline.
“We recruited Mac Belo because our front court is one of the areas where we need depth.
“We welcome him to the team and look forward to seeing his impact in our team,” said Black in a statement through Meralco’s official Facebook page.
Belo, who stands at 6-foot-4, was the Bossing’s selection in the 2016 special Gilas draft. He then emerged as the team’s main man, leading his side to two franchise-best elimination round finishes (7-4) and to three quarterfinal trips.
He was part of the Blackwater crew that played in the Philippine Cup bubble last season. There, he normed 11.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game, but his efforts weren’t enough as they finished with a 1-10 card.
Now, he joins a Bolts side that’s coming off a historic run in Clark, where they went just a win away from the Finals.
The former Far Eastern University star forms a solid frontcourt with center Raymond Almazan, the evergreen Reynel Hugnatan, Cliff Hodge, Noy Baclao, Jammer Jamito, and his fellow Tamaraw Raymar Jose.
However, it wasn’t easy for Meralco to land Belo, It had to let go of main floor general Baser Amer and veteran bug man Bryan Faundo, both of whom were part of all the Bolts’ previous trips to the Finals.
Amer was the MVP Group-owned franchise’s 7th overall pick in the 2015 Rookie Draft. Faundo, on the other hand, returned to Meralco in the same year after a short stint with them back in the 2011-12 season.
“To gain something of value, you, unfortunately, must lose something of value as well,” Black said.
“We thank Baser and Bryan, and we recognize all of their contributions. We wish them nothing but the best in their careers.”
Still, Meralco believes that the trade is beneficial for both parties moving forward.
“We believe this trade is beneficial to both teams, and will provide both players competitive environments to showcase their talents. As an organization, we remain committed to fair and exciting competition.”
