Lockdown also affecting recovery of Almazan, Belo

Raymond Almazan. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The long PBA hiatus has been both beneficial and detrimental to the recovery of injured stars Mac Belo and Raymond Almazan.

The league has been suspended indefinitely since March 11 due to the coronavirus disease pandemic with the 45th season still on hold as the country remains placed under community quarantine.

While rest and quality time with the family are aplenty, the situation also slows down Belo and Almazan’s rehabilitation.

“It’s hard because I’m coming off an injury and I can’t really do much at home. You’re under lockdown and at the same time, you’re also thinking about your injury,” Almazan, the Meralco Bolts center, said in Filipino in a story on the PBA website.

Almazan suffered a lateral meniscus tear in his left knee during the Governors’ Cup Finals last January.

Belo, the Blackwater Elite forward, meanwhile, underwent a left knee operation just before the season started.

The timing of the lockdown couldn’t have been any worse for Belo, who, at the time of the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) was on the second week of his rehab.

The 27-year-old Belo said he was also forced to go back home in Pampanga for him to be able to workout.

“It’s hard because I don’t have any equipment in the condo so I had to go back to Pampanga,” Belo said in Filipino. “I couldn’t really do anything in the condo, but now I can finally workout. I just ask my PT (physical therapist) for training programs.”

The 6-foot-7 Almazan is also making do with what he has and what he’s able to as far as working out goes with his left leg not yet fully healed.