IF coach Yeng Guiao's initial plan doesn't change, Mac Belo finally struts his stuff in Rain or Shine uniform as the Elasto Painters tangle with the San Miguel Beermen in PBA on Tour at the Ynares Arena in Pasig Wednesday.
Belo has been in Rain or Shine's training and workouts in the last few days or since signing a one-year deal with the team after his trade from the Meralco Bolts in exchange for Norbert Torres.
Guiao is happy with what he sees in Belo, a star forward with the FEU Tamaraws during his collegiate years who later made the pros via a special Gilas rookie draft.
A little more conditioning, and Guiao is confident the 6-foot-4 forward would be back in his lethal form and would be a good fit with the team.
Due to back injury, Belo saw miniscule time on the floor with the Bolts.
Belo is expected to play some minutes as the Elasto Painters square off with the Beermen at 7:30 p.m.
The E-Painters are perfect in two starts in the preseason series while the Beermen have been on a two-game roll after dropping their initial game against the Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters.
Minus June Mar Fajardo, Vic Manuel, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Ross, the returning Terrence Romeo has been at the forefront of SMB's attack.
Though still smarting from his own injury, Romeo has been shooting the lights out, averaging a league-best 20.7 points an outing.
"Siguro nasa 99 percent na ako," said Romeo.
"Talagang pinaghahandaan ko kung paano ako makakabalik sa game condition. Habang nagpapagaling, tina-try ko na hindi ako mawala sa condition para pag-totally healed na yung body ko, ready na ako," said Romeo.
Romeo paces SMB teammate Jericho Cruz (17.3) and Converge's Jerrick Balanza (17.0) in the race for scoring honors early in the pre-season meet. (SB)