IF there's one thing Mac Belo lamented following his trade to Meralco, it's cutting short his reunion with coach Nash Racela at Blackwater.
Although Racela came with the franchise late in 2019, he and Belo only got to rekindle their partnership that dates back to their days with Far Eastern University for just a single conference during the Philippine Cup bubble.
And the two had hardly warmed up their get-together when the Bossing pulled the trigger that sent Belo to the Bolts in exchange for Baser Amer and back-up big man Bryan Faundo.
"May kaunting panghihinayang kasi pagpasok ni coach gusto niyang baguhin yung culture sa Blackwater and gusto ko maging part pa nun and makasama pa si coach," said Belo when he appeared in the Saturday program Power&Play of former PBA Commissioner Noli Eala.
Belo and Racela established a winning culture at FEU that saw them win a UAAP men's basketball championship in 2015.
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The two were hoping to relive those moments upon Racela's arrival at Blackwater, where aside from Belo, other former Tamarawas on the roster include Mike Tolomia, Ron Denison, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Richard Escoto.
The mini-reunion though, did not yield the result it initially expected as the Bossing failed to sustain a fiery start and tumbled out of the race for a playoffs berth with a 2-9 record.
It proved to be the first and final stand for both mentor and student.
Belo admitted he and his co-FEU players had established a close relationship with Racela, who continues to see the progress of his former players' career in the pro league.
"Si coach kahit nung pumasok kami sa PBA nakasubaybay sa amin yan. Inaalalayan niya kami, alam niya yung makakabuti sa amin," said the native of Midsayap, Cotabato.
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But as a pro, Belo is ready to move forward and face the new challenge in front of him.
"Excited kasi panibagong challenge na naman sa akin," he said. "Fresh start para sa akin, gusto kong makatulong sa team (Meralco) kung ano man ang puwede kong maitulong." (RG)
