PBA: Beau knows basketball

Basketball players are some of the most athletic people in the world. They use a combination of speed, jumping ability, strength, and power to tow their teams to wins. But once in a while, there’ll be basketball players who look nothing like basketball players. Too small, too frail, too fat, too unathletic. However, not looking the part does not mean they can’t play the part.

He caught the ball at the top of the key. He put his head down, dribbled to his left and drove to the lane. The player faked a pass to his right that fooled one defender, then he Euro-stepped to evade another. The Rain or Shine Elasto Painter hung in the air, double-clutched his shot before releasing it.

Bank. Basket. And-one. He celebrated by shouting, throwing in a DX crotch chop for good measure, as his Rain or Shine Elastopainters defeated the Air21 Express 99-97 last Wednesday.

It was a pretty move from the player, and people who didn’t watch the game could assume that Paul Lee or maybe Ryan Araña completed the move. But no, it was Beau Belga, Rain or Shine’s burly forward-center and designated tough guy.

It was a big basket that gave Belga’s team the lead. After their import, the 7’3" Bruno Sundov fouled out, Belga was assigned to defend Air21’s Michael Dunigan and he did a tremendous job at it by stealing the ball twice on entry passes to the import.

Belga did not play a spectacular game by his standards. He only had five points although he did grab 10 rebounds. However, when the game was in the balance, he completed a stop for his team. It was something that will not show up in the box score but was the most important play of the game.

There were only 3.6 seconds left on the clock, and his Rain or Shine team was up by two precarious points. Belga stood on the opponent’s shaded lane to anchor one more stop for another win. The Air21 Express wanted to go to Dunigan. The problem was that Belga knew it too.

Anticipating an inbound pass from Mike Cortez, Belga ever so slightly pushed the import from behind. Slight enough not to warrant a call from the referees, but stiff enough to take Dunigan completely out of position. The result was a 99-97 victory for Belga and his boys.

After the game, no media members talked to Belga. Some talked to Chris Tiu and Paul Lee, the best player of that game. Belga walked out of their dugout largely unnoticed.

“Ganyan talaga si Beau,” said Araña. “Matalino talaga maglaro. Si Beau kasi, pagpasok pa lang niya, na-i-intimidate na agad yung kalaban. Kaya imbes na mag-layup sila, long shot na lang.”

Although Araña said that it never hurts to know that Belga has his back, the big guy’s value is far more than just being an enforcer. “Si Beau, magaling rin mag-motivate sa aming mga teammates niya. Alam niya kung kailan titira, alam niya kung kailan papasa.”

Belga’s Extra Rice Incorporated partner, JR Quiñahan, also had nothing but good things to say about him. “Kami naman ni Beau, ginagawa lang talaga namin yung role namin sa team,” Quiñahan said. “Madalas sinasabing salbahe kami pero di naman totoo yun. Pisikal lang kami at gusto lang talaga naming manalo.”

There’s no denying the fact that Belga is a highly physical player. When he commits a foul, especially in the open court, referees always signal for a flagrant foul. Oftentimes, upon review, they reduce these calls to regular fouls.
 
“Pispas na ku pin e,” said Air21's Niño Canaleta while letting out a smile. What he said was Kapampangan for “hinampas niya nga ako e.” Canaleta was one of the recipients of the popular Belga fouls earlier that night, but he always takes things like these in stride. “Di naman kasi gusto ni Beau na maka-injure ng player,” Canaleta said. “Hard foul talaga yung sa kanya para di ka maka three-point play or para mag dalawang isip ka sasusunod na makita mo siya.”

Most of his teammates were gone by the time the second game started. Belga, on the other hand, found his way to the press row to scout their next opponent. He sat with a foot resting on one of the table’s legs. While other PBA players’ featured six-pack abs, Belga carried a keg around and he’s quite proud of it.

He watched as Ginebra battled Barako Bull to see Vernon Macklin, Ginebra’s import, all 6’10’’ of him. Belga will most likely be matched up against Macklin in their next game like he was matched-up versus Dunigan. Belga often finds himself in these situations. He’s always matched up with taller and more athletic guys but he manages to keep them in check.


“Kahit naman malakas sila tumalon, pag binox-out mo, pantay na lang kayo e,” Belga said. “Utakan lang yan. Kung mas malakas ka tumalon sa amin o mas athletic ka sa amin, di ka namin sasabayan sa talunan.” His answer was easy enough to understand. Know your opponents and don’t fight them in their terms.

“Pero sa gulangan diyan kami may lamang,” he admitted. “Hawakan mo ng konti tapos konting tulak, kuha na yung rebound.”

Belga and Quiñahan come from a new breed of centers and belong to a class that they can call their own. They are tough, rugged, and physical but they can shoot from the outside, pass the ball to the open man, and sometimes even wow the audience with a pretty drive to the lane.

“Hindi ako maka-shoot sa labas eh kaya sabi ko sa sarili ko subukan ko namang mag-drive,” Belga said. The crotch shop on the other hand wasn’t planned. “Nadala lang ako ng emotion. Close game tapos papalamang pa yung team nila nun.”

“Actually gusto ko talaga si Triple H,” Belga added and it made perfect sense. Belga is Triple H, the cerebral assassin, trapped in Earthquake’s or Vader’s body. Triple H is not the biggest or the strongest. He’s not the flashiest or the most athletic, but he’s one of the most decorated men in wrestling history. That’s what Belga’s trying to be; to prove that he can be a really good player even with limited athletic ability; to show everyone that sometimes a strong basketball mind beats the most athletics bodies.

“Kung hindi man kayo ganun ka-athletic, mataba or whatever, di naman ibig sabihin nun hindi ka na pwedeng mag-basketball,” Belga said. “Yung di mo nakuha sa katawan mo, daanan mo sa sipag at diskarte.”

For Belga, there should be no excuses. We’re dealt a set of cards and it’s up to us to figure out how to win with it. In basketball, athletic ability is a weapon but it’s not the only weapon. Sometimes the most unlikely basketball players can end up being some of the better ones. — OMG, GMA News