Trade talks to acquire Beau Belga ‘died a natural death’, says NLEX’s Guiao

The likelihood of Beau Belga joining NLEX in the PBA doesn’t look very high at the moment.

According to Road Warriors head coach Yeng Guiao, Belga’s current team, Rain or Shine, no longer seems interested in pursuing trade talks that would’ve sent the big man to NLEX.

Guiao added that the bid is likely now out of the window and said his wards will just focus on their preseason buildup, which starts today at the Alpha Aviation Basketball Court in Clark.

“I don't think (the trade) is still active now. There's no movement,” Guiao told GMA News Online in an interview.

“From how I see it, there's very little chance that that will push through. It's not even in our consciousness. I don't think it's in their consciousness. It died a natural death because I don't think they were also interested.”

Guiao and Belga have plenty of history together.

The 6-foot-5 bruiser was the veteran coach’s principal big man when Guiao was patrolling the sidelines for the Elasto Painters from 2011 to 2016. Together, they turned the franchise into legitimate title contenders, winning a pair of titles in the 2012 Governors’ Cup and 2016 Commissioner’s Cup.

A potential trade could also have reunited Belga with his ‘Extra Rice’ partner in JR Quinahan, who is, incidentally, currently Guiao’s reliable big man in the NLEX camp.

But a reunion would have to wait longer – or even be thrown out of the window – unless both teams are able to come together quickly before the league opens the next season in June.

“Ang deal breaker kasi doon ay ‘yung initial na kinukuha nila ay draft pick that turned out to be (Calvin) Often and after we drafted Oftana, they were still asking if interested pa kami but it's the same deal e,” the outspoken mentor said.

NLEX then offered a revised deal although Guiao chose not to disclose the players included.

“There's no more talk after that.” —JMB, GMA News