WILL this trade bring back the old, deadly form of Mac Belo?
Meralco has shipped the versatile but seldom-used forward to Rain or Shine in exchange for big man Norbert Torres.
The one-on-one deal was approved by the PBA yesterday, with Belo getting a new lease of life in his pro career.
A product of Far Eastern University where he won a title and the finals MVP plum in 2015, the 6-foot-4 Belo was tabbed third overall by Blackwater seven years ago in the special Gilas Pilipinas draft.
Belo, 30, saw action for four seasons with the Bossing while dealing with an assortment of injuries before he was traded to the Bolts in February 2021 for Baser Amer and Bryan Faundo.
But he played in just nine games the entire campaign for a grand total of 35 minutes, averaging .9 points per game.
Meralco thanked Belo for his stint with the team and expressed excitement with the arrival of Torres.
“The Meralco Bolts have reached a trade agreement with the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters involving Mac Belo and Norbert Torres,” the Manny V. Pangilinan-owned ball club said in a statement yesterday. “We want to thank Mac Belo for his contributions to the team and wish him well in his future endeavors.
“At the same time, we are excited to welcome Norbert Torres to the Meralco Bolts family. We believe that he will make a positive impact on the team, and we look forward to working with him as we prepare for the upcoming season.”
The development was also the first Meralco transaction in the offseason under new coach Luigi Trillo.
The 6-foot-6 Torres, a former La Salle standout and first-round pick of Magnolia in 2015, proved his worth since joining the Elasto Painters.
He averaged 6.5 points and 2.8 rebounds last season as a reliable center with a feathery touch from outside.
