LIKE a real trooper, Mac Belo took things in stride after his contract was no longer renewed by Rain or Shine for the coming Season 49 of the PBA.
Belo, 31, has been in basketball for such a long time he understands how its business side works and operates.
“Part naman ng pagiging professional yun, so ganun talaga. Kailangan mo lang mag-move on,” said the former Far Eastern University standout on Saturday when he joined new team Zamboanga Valientes in its first practice with new import DeMarcus Cousins for the coming grand finals of The Asian Tournament.
Belo was let go by the Elasto Painters at the end of Season 48 after his one-year deal expired.
He was taken by Rain or Shine in 2023 as part of the trade with the Meralco Bolts for fellow big man Norbert Torres.
Prior to his stint with the Bolts, Belo served as the main man of the Blackwater Bossing as the team’s top pick in the 2016 special Gilas draft.
Unfortunately, a knee injury slowed down the native of Midsayap, Cotabato that soon after, he found himself being shipped to the Bolts in exchange for guard Baser Amer.
Belo initially had a good career reboot with the Bolts, only to see his playing time dwindle as the seasons went by. Nonetheless, he was part of the team that reached the 2022 Governors’ Cup Finals but lost to Barangay Ginebra Kings.
In his season-long stay with Rain or Shine, the 6-foot-4 forward was among coach Yeng Guiao’s core group off the bench, and somehow helped the Elasto Painters reach the semifinals (Philippine Cup) for the first time in five years.
Now Belo feels he’s like starting all over again.
“Alam naman natin yung buhay basketball. Every opportunity, take it,” he said. “Masaya pa rin ako kasi basketball pa din ang nilalaro ko. Kumbaga ball is life pa rin.”
Still not lost on Belo is the goal of making it back to the PBA.
“Hopefully. Kumbaga 'yun pa rin yung dream,” he said. “So hopefully na maka-comeback.”
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