CLARK FREEPORT – Blackwater is trying to slowly but surely get rookie big man Maurice Shaw back in his rhythm.
Coach Nash Racela admitted the 6-foot-9 Shaw is obviously not in game shape yet, which was why the coaching staff decided to just pace him in the early goings of the Elite’s campaign in the PBA Philippine Cup.
The No. 2 pick in last year’s rookie draft was limited to just 10 minutes of play by Racela in his league debut - a rousing 96-89 win over favorite NorthPort Batang Pier on Monday night at the Angeles University Foundation gym.
Shaw, 35, finished with two points and two rebounds.
“Wala pa siya talaga sa kundisyon,” he said. “Actually, our plan is to just use him three minutes at a time, Labas-pasok lang siya to get a feel of the court and the game.”
But Racela understands the situation of the Fil-Am big man.
Shaw didn’t arrive in the country from the U.S. until Sept. 26, or three days before the entire Blackwater team headed to Clark Freeport for the PBA bubble.
After undergoing a one-week quarantine, Shaw followed the team to Pampanga, where he was quarantined again for two more days.
Racela said the Elite didn’t have the chance to practice with a complete roster until Thursday last week when Shaw was finally able to join them in scrimmages.
“Unti-unti lang muna especially dito halos araw-araw ang games. Mahirap kapag wala ka talaga sa kundisyon,” said the Blackwater coach.
Racela added the team is also applying the same approach to main man Mac Belo, who is coming off a minor knee surgery during the offseason.
“Ganun din kay Mac. Dapat every five minutes naman ang playing time niya sa court bago siya ilalabas ulit,” he said of his former player with Far Eastern University.
But Belo played so well in the win that Racela couldn’t afford to take him out especially down the stretch when NorthPort made a huge run to make a game of it.
“Medyo na-excite ng kaunti kaya nag-stay na siya sa loob,” Racel said,
Belo repaid the trust by finishing with 16 points (7-of-14), five rebounds, and six assists.
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