Ace rookie Belo out of Team Gilas

MANILA, Philippines - Blackwater top rookie Mac Belo, groomed to take over Ranidel de Ocampo’s spot as the big shooting forward, has been officially ruled  out of the Gilas Pilipinas team to the SEABA Championship slated May 12-18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Belo showed up in Gilas’ practice at the Meralco Gym last Monday just to inform coach Chot Reyes of the result of his MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test.

The MRI result showed he suffered a meniscus tear that  requires immediate medical procedure. He could be out for four to six weeks.

Belo said he has gone through the same procedure for the same injury during his stint with the FEU Tamaraws.

Also out of the SEABA competition with injuries were Russell Escoto and Arthur dela Cruz.

Andray Blatche, however, could join the SEABA buildup of Gilas Pilipinas sooner than later as his Xinjiang Flying Tigers team has jumped to a 2-0 lead versus the Guangdong Southern side in the CBA best-of-seven finale.

The next two games are set in Guangdong today and Friday.

But even if the best-of-seven playoff goes the full route, Blatche can well catch up with Gilas in preparation for the FIBA sub-zonal competition.

Gilas’ training goes full blast only after the 2017 PBA All-Star Week set April 26-30 in Cagayan de Oro, Lucena and Cebu.

Terrence Romeo and Matthew Wright finally joined the Gilas once-a-week workout Monday, padding to 20 the Gilas pool members sweating it out in drills, exercises and scrimmages.

Also present in the session Monday were June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Troy Rosario, Bradwyn Guinto, Carl Bryan Cruz, Norbert Torres, Alfonso Gotladera, LA Revilla, Jio Jalalon, Ed Daquiaog, Roger Pogoy, Jonathan Grey, Mike Tolomia, Almond Vosotros, Allein Maliksi, Kevin Ferrer and Von Pessumal.

Watching from the sidelines were Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva and Arnold Van Opstal.

Showing up midway through the session was former Gilas player Marc Pingris who later gave a short pep talk to the Gilas pool members.