Elite unveil belo, prevail in opener

Mac Belo debuts for Blackwater. PBA IMAGES

Mac Belo scored 17 points and had nine rebounds, and Blackwater got off to its finest PBA start last night with a 94-87 decision of Phoenix Petroleum in the Philippine Cup eliminations.

But just when everyone was harping praises on the prized Elite rookie and the newfound strength that the league’s former whipping boys flaunted, it was coach Leo Isaac who talked guardedly.

“You can see that he has the potential, he is full of promise,” Isaac said after playing the former Far Eastern ace close to 33 minutes where he was 50 percent from the field and scored 12 of his total in the final two quarters at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

“But you have to guide him. This is the time where the coaches would have to step in—for his tools to be properly sharpened so that he turns out to be the player that he is projected to be,” Isaac elaborated after his Elite spoiled a career-high 25 points from Phoenix’ Simon Enciso.

There’s no doubt that this Blackwater team is vastly different—in a good way—compared to the 2014 expansion squad that failed to make it past any elimination round in its first six conferences in the league.

Though Isaac acknowledges this, he also talked in a way to make sure that his players stay on their toes, and that they don’t fall to complacency even though they have so many tools to succeed for the first time after two forgettable seasons.

“It’s a new season for us, we have some new players whom we really want,” Isaac said. “We have renewed energy and new hope. But all the excitement (in the pre-season) must be converted to Ws (wins).”
Isaac went on: “It has to be translated into Ws and that’s where the hard work (for us) begins. The other players, we want them to learn basic basketball, not the fancy stuff.”

Art dela Cruz scored 12 points and veteran Denok Miranda, plucked out of retirement in the last Governors’ Cup, hit eight in the fourth and finished with 11.

Enciso’s career night was spiked by seven triples and three others finished in twin digits for the Fuel Masters, who missed their highly touted rookie, Matthew Wright, who was downed by food poisoning the night before.

Dylan Ababou and James Forrester, former collegiate stars who were also acquisitions in the off-season, also showed their worth for the Elite by combining for 16 points.