Mac Belo shows off defensive game against Ateneo

MANILA, Philippines – Mac Belo keeps rising. 

The 22-year old forward continues to get better in his last playing year for the FEU Tamaraws – from proving he can be the go-to guy offensively and steadily expanding his game out to the perimeter, to ascending as a defensive ace for head coach Nash Racela.

Against the Ateneo Blue Eagles on Sunday, October 11, Belo demonstrated his strong capability to defend wingmen such as UAAP MVP Kiefer Ravena.

“It’s part of Mac’s improvement because he was really used to defending bigger guys underneath,” noted Racela, who encouraged and trained Belo to slide down to small forward from power forward in part as preparation for a pro career in the PBA. 

Racela put Belo on veteran Ravena in the endgame as an adjustment, admitting it was not part of the game plan. But Belo did not disappoint as he provided the crucial block on Ravena’s attempt inside the final minute to help seal the 66-61 win for FEU. 

“When he started with Gilas, that’s where he learned and adjusted because he had to defend perimeter players,” Racela said of Belo as FEU was +13 with him on the floor. “He really embraced that.” 

Belo also hounded another wingman Von Pessumal – to the satisfaction of Racela – and helped limit him to 8 points and two-of-10 shooting from the field.

“Kiefer is a smart and really good player so he’s difficult to defend,” said the graduating Belo in Filipino after topscoring for the Tamaraws with 12 points to go with 5 rebounds, two assists, and that lone game-saving block. “So we must limit his touches. But he can still score anyway.”

Ravena finished with 15 points on 5-of-15 field goals all game. Ravena, who poured 11 of those points in the fourth quarter, also missed his two attempts from beyond the arc. 

“I’m used to playing with Mac,” said Ravena, who was teammates with Belo on the Sinag Pilipinas national team that competed in the 2015 SEA Games. “We guard each other in the national team, so it’s a challenge.” 

The 6-foot-4 FEU team captain admitted in the offseason that expanding his arsenal from inside to outside and becoming versatile was never an easy adjustment. But his time with the national team, long hours of practice, and patience from the FEU coaching staff certainly helped him. 

“I always work on it, especially on defense,” Belo told Rappler a couple of weeks before UAAP Season 78 started. “It was a huge challenge but I accepted it because I know it’s for my own good. I like to be challenged because that’s how I improve.”

Belo’s improvement so far helped the Tamaraws gain solo first place at 7-1 at the onset of the second round. He looks to propel his team to the Finals once more and this time, hopefully, win the championship. – Rappler.com