Mac Belo. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
TAIPEI – Gilas Pilipinas’ campaign in the Jones Cup Invitational will end on Sunday night, and from among the 17 intrepid men that coach Chot Reyes brought here, it will only be Mac Belo who will have a forgettable tournament.
Coming off an injury that kept him out for most of the PBA season, Belo was hoping to bounce back in this tournament to regain his confidence on the court, and most of all, prove to himself that the injury has healed and that it has healed well.
“I’m starting to get frustrated,” Belo told the Inquirer in Filipino after sitting out a 101-70 victory over India on Saturday afternoon. “My mind feels that I am ready to play. I feel like I am ready to play at the highest level, but somehow, I can’t.”
READ: Belo has to get over mental hump regarding injury — Reyes
A lot has been expected from the 6-foot-3 former Far Eastern University ace, and Reyes even named him as a candidate for the Fiba Asia Championship squad that will play in Beirut from Aug. 8-20.
But Belo, it seems, hasn’t gone over the psychological hump that will allow him to play with full efficiency despite a surgically-repained knee.
“He is a big part of our plans for the Fiba Asia,” Reyes said. “But he is still not in game shape.
“I think it’s all in here,” Reyes added while pointing to his temple.
READ: Belo undergoes surgery for tear, will still attend Gilas training
Belo acknowledges that and knows that he has to battle his frustrations and that psychological hump at the same time.
He said that he is ready to embrace whatever Reyes decides on as far as the Fiba Asia lineup is concerned, and that he is willing to work himself back into National Team-shape.
“I have complete trust in coach Chot,” he said. “He knows what’s good for me and the National team.”