Belga taking lead role for Rain or Shine’s championship bid

MANILA, Philippines — Rain or Shine’s success doesn’t lie on just one or two players but through a collective team effort. No superstars, only a band of brothers working as one cohesive unit.

But out of that group, it’s hard for hefty big man Beau Belga not to stand out. Not because of his sheer size but for what he means to the Elasto Painters’ championship drive.

“Beau is learning to impose his presence not just on court but also off the court,” said ROS head coach Yeng Guiao.

Guiao added that Belga has transcended into a leader for his team apart from his solid contributions in different aspects of the game whether it’s his intimidating presence at the defensive end or his expanding offensive game.

And the six-foot-five Belga displayed his full repertoire in helping Rain or Shine knock off title-favorite Petron Blaze in the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

He barely notched a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds in the Painters’ 97-88 closeout win over the Boosters last Friday in Game 5 albeit the suspended Guiao, just days after piercing a dagger of a trey in Game 4.

The 27-year-old Belga, who earned his second Accel-PBA Press Corps Player of the Week citation, averaged 11.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and roughly two assists per game in the semis – aside from the intangibles he is able to bring on and off the court.

Belga, the former Philippine Christian University slotman, edged San Mig Coffee’s heady guard Mark Barroca for the weekly honor.

Barroca, who has been named Player of the Week for the past three weeks, has led the Mixers to a 3-2 edge over the top-seeded Barangay Ginebra Kings in their nip-and-tuck semifinals duel.