It was not the return Mac Belo envisioned it to be
The Blackwater Elite approached their game against the San Miguel Beermen Saturday with a lot of positives, as rookie Mac Belo had finally made his return after a three-month long hiatus due to a torn meniscus in his right knee.
But that positivity was thrown out the window and crashed hours later, after the Beermen stamped their class and dismantled them easily, 118-93, in front of a SMB-favoring crowd at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
“Oo nga first game ko ‘to sa PBA,” reflected the Gilas cadet, who finished with 13 points and four rebounds in the 25 minutes he played.
“Okay naman kaso panget lang ng pagbalik, kasi tambak.”
The only thing making the Elite upbeat regarding the 24-year-old Far Eastern University standout is that his right knee, though not yet a hundred percent, is on its way to full recovery.
“Sa ngayon ‘di ko masabing 100 percent kasi may rehab pa ‘ko ngayon.
“Pero pwede naman, may clearance naman na ko sa doctor na maglaro. Nilalaro ko lang para masanay,” said the 6-foot-4 forward, who last played back in March 22.
But that doesn’t change the fact that the young franchise is not in a good spot this Governor’s Cup. Their loss to SMB sent them down to a 0-3 hole, similar to the records of Kia Picanto and Alaska Aces, which both lost Friday.
Belo, however, remains positive despite the team’s winless stretch.
“Siguro mas marami kaming dapat ayusin. Umpisahan namin sa practice. Malaki naman yung tiwala ko kina coach at sa coaching staff namin,” the topflight rookie said.
“Siyempre alam nila yung gagawin sa team namin. Play as a team pa rin kami.”
