Beau Belga shocked over Abueva’s exclusion from Gilas 12

Former Gilas Pilipinas reserve Beau Belga on Friday night said he was shocked when he heard that Calvin Abueva was one of the two players cut from the final roster of the national team for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Beast and veteran point guard LA Tenorio were dropped from 12-man lineup announced on Sunday, a decision which stunned and disappointed thousands of Filipino basketball fans.

Belga confessed that he was also among those who was caught off guard by the move to exclude Abueva, the recent Best Player of the Conference in the PBA.

"Ako talaga, sa sarili ko, hindi ko expected na si Calvin 'yung matatanggal. Ang expected ko, kasama talaga si Calvin," said the Rain or Shine big man, whose team beat Abueva's Alaska in the finals of the Commissioner's Cup.

Belga said he thought Abueva's impressive performance in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship and William Jones Cup locked him in for a spot in the final 12.

Former national team coach Chot Reyes explained that the Gilas coaching staff decided to go for size in the Olympic qualifier, which led to Abueva's exclusion as he only stands a shade below 6-foot-2.

"Nung nakita 'yung lineup, nagulat lang ako," Belga said. "Pero siyempre desisyon nina coach Tab (Baldwin) 'yun e."

Belga said he understands what Abueva is going through right now, as he also served the national team in a reserve capacity in the FIBA World Cup and the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.

"Nangyari na rin naman sa akin 'yun e. Na-reserve ako twice, pero it's how you accept 'yung nangyari. And susuporta at susuporta ka pa rin," he said. —ALG, GMA News