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PBA: Mac Belo shrugs off low-scoring game, says winning more important

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/12/15/mac-belo-121516.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Fans in the Memphis-Cleveland game were not happy with LeBron James&#x27; no-show. Dan Hamilton, USA Today Sports</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines — For the first time in his young PBA career, Mac Belo failed to score in double digits as the young Blackwater forward was limited to nine points by the NLEX Road Warriors. Yet the former Far Eastern University star is not at all worried, as the Elite completed a 96-85 win over NLEX in the PBA Philippine Cup. It marks their first win over the Road Warriors in seven tries, and it was an impressive one as Blackwater never trailed, leading by as many as 15 points in the final quarter.Belo, who averaged 19 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his first four PBA games, settled for nine points on three-of-eight shooting, while adding five rebounds, five assists and a career-high five steals.<ul class="op-related-articles" title="Read">	<li>READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/12/14/elite-back-winning-track-frustrating-nlex-19269">Elite back on the winning track after frustrating NLEX</a></li></ul>&quot;OK lang kasi nakuha namin ang panalo,&quot; Belo said of his low-scoring output. &quot;At saka maganda ang outcome, kasi balanced scoring. Importante nakuha ang panalo. &#x27;Di lang naman sa individual &#x27;yun eh.&quot;After seeing how Belo can impact games, the Road Warriors were determined not to let the rookie beat them and so they focused their defense on the athletic forward.&quot;Maganda ang depensa ng NLEX,&quot; Belo acknowledged. &quot;Dine-deny nila ako. Noong una, medyo binabasa ko pa lang ang defense nila. Nangangapa ako. Hinayaan ko na lang ang teammates ko gumawa, kaya siguro mababa ang field goals ko.&quot;It helped that NLEX had Glenn Khobuntin and Jansen Rios, two former UAAP players who are familiar with Belo&#x27;s game.&quot;S&#x27;ya (Khobuntin) &#x27;yung dumepensa sa akin noong 2014,&quot; Belo said, referring to FEU&#x27;s finals showdown against National University in Season 77.&quot;Tapos, sa SEA Games, kami nagbabantayan lagi. Late lang, nag-3x3 kami, so alam namin ang laro ng isa&#x27;t isa,&quot; he added.The eight field goals taken by Belo against NLEX were the fewest of his career. Prior to Wednesday&#x27;s game, his fewest attempts were the nine shots he took in his first game, a 94-87 victory over Phoenix.Blackwater coach Leo Isaac pointed out that Belo has already been scouted by other PBA teams, but he is urging the talented rookie to keep on working and &quot;sharpening the other tools that he has.&quot;&quot;In this game, medyo na-check ng kaunti noong first two quarters,&quot; he said of Belo. &quot;Dumating sa kanya yung point na naging hesitant s&#x27;ya tumira. So during the halftime break, we had to convince him that he has to play more aggressively, considering that other teams have already studied his style of play.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Mac Belo doesn't mind submitting a subpar scoring output as long as his team comes away with a victory.

Mac Belo doesn't mind submitting a subpar scoring output as long as his team comes away with a victory.

PBA: Mac Belo shrugs off low-scoring game, says winning more important

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PBA: Mac Belo shrugs off low-scoring game, says winning more important

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published December 15, 2016 04:30 PM PHT

Read More:

pba

philippine cup

blackwater elite

mac belo

leo isaac

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