Beau Belga was given a chance to redeem himself Sunday night after his one-game suspension was moved to Friday after PBA Commissioner Chito Narvasa deemed that the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters were too undermanned against TNT.
“I think Beau wanted to play well because may kasalanan siya sa team,” shared first-year head coach Caloy Garcia.
Last August 13, Belga was thrown out of the game with 6:50 left in the third quarter of their game against Kia after being slapped with two unsportsmanlike fouls. The Elasto Painters barely escaped the Picanto during that game.
And with Gabe Norwood and Jireh Ibanes our for Rain or Shine, the 30-year old realized that what he did was wrong and that he is now one of the leaders of the team.
“Sinabi lang sa akin ni coach Caloy last time na dapat may leader sa loob. Wala si Gabe, wala si Jireh, so kailangan ko tulungan yung iba.
“Yun na lang ang tulong ko kasi next game, suspendido ako. Wala akong masyadong maitutulong next game. Kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko, manalo lang today para naman come next game, meron kaming baon na momentum,” said Belga, who finished with five points and 10 rebounds in ROS’ 32-point rout of TNT.
“Beau played a good game today and it helped them. So I think that was… it helped them in a way,” TNT head coach Nash Racela said as TNT was not surprised that Belga played.
Moreover, with his bigger role in the team, Belga is finally realizing that he can no longer be the bruiser that he once was.
“I need to be there for my teammates kasi the coaches consider me as one of the veterans na. I need to be a role model. Di kailangang ako ang kokontrolin nila,” he furthered.
“If he can play like that, he will of huge help to the team,” Garcia closed.
