Big Mac delivers for Blackwater Belo scores 25 to give Elite 1st win of PH Cup
Games on Jan. 7 (Smart Araneta Coliseum) 4:30 p.m. – NLEX vs Phoenix 6:45 p.m. – Ginebra vs GlobalPort
Mac Belo produced his best showing since returning from a knee injury by tying his career-high with 25 points and Blackwater overcame Rain or Shine, 92-87, last night for its first victory in the PBA Philippine Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome.
The former Far Eastern University star scored nine in the fourth quarter, including seven in the final four minutes to help the Elite barge into the win column after a 103-98 loss to the Meralco Bolts last Dec. 22 at the same venue.
Half of the 10 shots Belo made came from three-point territory – the last giving Blackwater a 90-85 lead with 1:39 remaining in the fourth – to cap off a performance that could be a sign of things to come for the sophomore forward who missed most of last season’s rookie campaign.
“Talagang nag-focus ako sa strengthening ko, sa conditioning ko kaya medyo bumabalik na yung kumpiyansa ko,” Belo said in a postgame interview on television.
Mike DiGregorio backed up Belo for 23 points even as rookie Raymar Jose and Allein Maliksi added 12 and 10 points, respectively, for the Elite, whose win over the Elasto Painters turned to be historic for many reasons.
It was the first time Blackwater beat Rain or Shine in 10 tries since joining the league in 2014 and also its first-ever victory at the Pasay City venue.
Coach Leo Isaac also won at Cuneta for the first time in his PBA coaching career, though he has posted numerous triumphs for Mapua in the NCAA and with Blackwater during its days in the PBA D-League.
“We had to be patient with (Belo), same with the players with the plays. That’s what we have been discussing, we need to be patient to execute more plays,” said Isaac.
Chris Tiu once again showed why he’s taking a more aggressive approach on offense by scoring 14 points but Rain or Shine, which secured an 81-78 win over TNT KaTropa in its opening assignment, failed to end the calendar year tying unbeaten teams San Miguel and NLEX for the early lead and drop to 1-1.
Blackwater took the lead for good, 81-79, on a Maliksi follow-up with over five minutes remaining in the game before Belo extended the Elite lead to 85-80, several plays later.
Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga scored a three-point play to trim the margin to two, 87-85, with 1:51 to go before Belo connected on a triple that virtually put Blackwater in safer ground. Belo 25, DiGregorio 23, Jose 12, Maliksi 10, Erram 8, Pinto 7, Sumang 5, Sena 2, Marcelo 0, Cortez 0, Javier 0. Tiu 14, Norwood 13, Daquioag 13, Almazan 10, Maiquez 8, Belga 7 Borboran 6, Yap 5, Trollano 4, King 3, Ponferada 2, Nambatac 2. Quarters: 25-28; 47-44; 65-64; 92-87.