By Dwyane Harry L. Cabrera
A decade after leading the Far Eastern University (FEU) Tamaraws to a championship, former Season 78 Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Mac Belo has returned to the green-and-gold program as an assistant coach, hoping to instill the team's long-standing ‘Be Brave’ mantra as it gears up for the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Season 89 men's basketball tournament.
“‘Yung tagline natin, ‘Be Brave,’ so, ‘yun naman talaga ‘yung umpisa talaga ng tagline ng FEU. So, keep fighting, always be brave (Our tagline, ‘Be Brave,’ and it has always been the foundation of FEU's identity. That's why I encourage our players to keep fighting and always be brave),” he said in an interview with FEU Advocate.
Belo was a key piece of FEU's 2015 championship team, helping the Tamaraws overcome University of Santo Tomas in a hard-fought three-game UAAP Season 78 Finals series to capture the school's 20th title.
Moreover, he expressed his intention to share the values that guided him during his playing years.
Reflecting on his return, the former Tamaraw standout shared that being back in FEU reminded him of his days as a student-athlete, a period when much of his life revolved around the University and its basketball program.
After spending almost a decade in the Philippine Basketball Association, Belo extended his gratitude for the opportunity to once again represent the school and contribute to its basketball tradition.
Additionally, the former green-and-gold champion expressed enthusiasm to work with head coach Sean Chambers, adding that the role allows him to keep learning while helping develop the team's players.
“Coach Sean [Chambers] is doing a great job naman with the team. So, ang maitutulong ko lang siguro sa player is development. So, [sana] ma-share ko ‘yung mga experience ko during my UAAP times and also my professional career (Coach Sean is already doing a great job leading the team. I hope to contribute through player development by sharing the lessons and experiences I gained during my time in the UAAP and in my professional basketball career),” Belo said.
The former Finals MVP also underscored the importance of unity within the team, stressing that trust among players is crucial for success.
“Kailangan lang magtiwala sa isa't isa, kailangan na ‘yung teamwork nila laging nandiyan [para] magtulungan, and also being brave sa lahat ng ginagawa nila especially sa part ‘pag naglalaro sila (They just need to trust one another. Teamwork should always be there to help each other, and also being brave in everything they do, especially when they are playing),” he noted.
As the Morayta-based squad prepares for the UAAP Season 89 men's basketball tournament, Belo hopes to use his experience to help the Tamaraws grow as a team and inspire them to be brave both on and off the court.
(Photo by James Neil Tamayo/FEU Advocate)