Belo back in action for Elite, admits still groping for form

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

ANTIPOLO — Mac Belo made his PBA return on Saturday after being sidelined for four months due to a knee injury.

But the Blackwater rookie admitted he still groping for form and has yet to fully recover from a torn meniscus in his right knee.

“Right now, I can’t really say that I’m 100 percent because I’m still undergoing rehab,” said Belo in Filipino after the Elite got blown out by the San Miguel Beermen, 118-93.

“But I can already play. I already have clearance to play from the doctor. I also want to get used to playing again.”

The game against the Beermen isn’t exactly Belo’s first official game back after his injury. He played five out of the possible nine games with Gilas Pilipinas in the Jones Cup in Taipei.

And just like his performance in the Jones Cup, it’s clear that Belo has yet to regain his old game.

Against the Beermen, the 24-year-old Belo came off the bench and had 13 points and four rebounds in 25 minutes and 32 seconds of play.

Blackwater will need more of Belo as soon as possible. The loss to SMB was already Elite’s third in as many games.

“We really need to work on a lot of things and it starts in practice. I have faith in coach and the rest of our coaching staff. They know what needs to be done to improve the team. For us players, we just need to play as one team.”