Belo ready for Asia Cup?

TAIPEI – Will Mac Belo be ready in time for the FIBA Asia Cup?

It’s a concern for coach Chot Reyes as the 6-foot-4 Blackwater forward continued to grope for form barely 18 days to the start of the Lebanon joust set Aug. 8-20.

“He’s part of our plan for FIBA Asia but we need to take a look at his progress. It looks like he’s not game ready,” said Gilas coach Chot Reyes of one of only 15 players to choose from for the Final 12 to the Asia Cup.

“Inuunti-unti namin (We’re getting him back slowly). But we have to make a decision very soon. So we’ll see,” said Reyes, referring to the deadline for submission of final roster on July 25.

Troy Rosario, Baser Amer, Almond Vosotros, Kevin Ferrer, Kiefer Ravena, Ray Parks, Mike Tolomia, Von Pessumal, Carl Bryan Cruz, Raymar Jose, Kobe Paras and Christian Standhardinger make up the cast for the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur on Aug. 19-30.

Left in the pool that can be considered for the Asia Cup are Belo, Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Allein Maliksi, Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Jio Jalalon, Matthew Wright, RR Pogoy, Gabe Norwood, Norbert Torres and Kevin Alas.

Belo has seen action in five games here, converting just one shot so far. He failed to make even one attempt versus Korea and Lithuania.

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Christian Standhardinger has moved on, not taking personally the dressing down he received from coach Chot Reyes for his technical infractions in their game against Iraq Thursday.

He apologized to the team after the game and was back doing his job against Lithuania.

“It got heated (Thursday) but nothing changed. I’ve so much respect for coach Chot (Reyes) and I know that I’m respected, and that’s the most important thing,” Standhardinger said.

 “It only gets our relationship to the next level. I know exactly what he wants me to do. I’m trying to execute what he wants me to do, and I hope we’ll be successful through the years,” he added.

Reyes played down his outburst on Standhardinger’s cheap shot against his Iraqi rival.

“It’s no big deal for us,” said Reyes. “It’s a learning experience for him. Those are things he has to learn the hard way. But we’re not even making a fuzz out of it.