Far Eastern University’s Mac Belo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
FEU seniors Mac Belo and Russel Escoto admitted that they are still considering whether they will return to the Tamaraws fort this upcoming UAAP Season 79.
“Sa ngayon, pinagiisipan ko pa,” said Belo, the 2015 Finals MVP. “Lagi nga kami naglolokohan ni Russel eh, pero wala pa kaming desisyon.”
Escoto is likewise undecided, with the PBA draft or the Gilas cadets program also viable options for the center.
“Di pa ako sure, pero open naman ako sa possibility,” he said. “Di pa rin kasi namin alam kung mag-PBA kami o mag-Gilas.”
Belo and Escoto are among the amateur players who are eyed to be part the revival of the cadets program.
Still, Escoto said that it wouldn’t really hurt if the two big men give their collegiate careers one last try, with both men still eligible at their age of 23.
“Siguro kung may chance, malay mo bumalik kaming dalawa at laruin namin, ide-defend namin yung crown. Iba rin kasi kung makakapaglalaro kami ng maayos ni Mac para matulungan ng team,” he said.
Their return is sure to bolster a title retention bid for FEU, which has struggled so far in the off-season because of a lack of go-to-guy.
However, it could deprive budding Tamaraws big men like Raymar Jose, Prince Orizu, and Ken Holmqvist a chance to see more action for the squad.
But Escoto sees it as a double-edged sword.
“Medyo mababawasan ng chance yung mga bago doon pag bumalik kami. Pero kung papalaruin naman kami, why not di ba? Baka mas matutulungan pa namin sila para mag-improve at malaki naman yung maitutulong namin sa team kasi wala na silang beterano. Parang si Jose na lang,” said Escoto.
With UAAP season opening in September, the two big men still have a lot of time to ponder things before they take the next step in their careers.
“Nasa amin pa rin yun,” said Belo. “Basta dito muna kami at focus muna sa Phoenix dito sa D-League.”
“Kung babalik man kami, surprise na lang.”