Belga says close-out games are always hardest

Beau Belga. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Beau Belga needed a two-day respite for him to refocus as Rain or Shine looks to end the 2016 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals on Wednesday.

After his lackluster showing in the Elasto Painters’ last two losses, where he averaged 5.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists, he has been pushing himself to get his act together for his team.

“Di na maganda yung nangyayari eh. Nakakabigat na ako sa team eh, di na nakakatulong. Seryoso muna. Tingnan namin kung ano magiging epekto sa game bukas,” he said.

Compared to the first three games of the Finals, where he shot 58-percent from threes, Belga’s shooting went south in the last two as he only finished 4-of-15 from beyond the arc for a paltry 26-percent.

While head coach Yeng Guiao is tasked to tweak the game plan, the burden lies with the players to execute the adjustments.

“Yun lang sinabi sa amin ni coach, yung mindset sa ganitong mangyayari, it’s up to us. Si coach, adjustment lang maibibigay sa amin. Gagawa sya ng game plan at adjustment na pwede. Kami ang maga-apply, kami ang maglalaro, kami rin yung gagawa ng sarili naming destiny,” he said. “Hopefully bukas, yung destiny na yun, makuha na namin.”

As seen in the last two games, closing out the inspired Aces have been quite a task for the Rain or Shine.

But down to two tries left to bag the crown, the Elastopainters are now forced to look at every game as do-or-die.

“Yun ang pinakamahirap sa isang series, yung pag-close out. Pag naghahabol ka, nothing to lose eh, all-out na, wala na mangyayari so ibibigay mo na lahat. Unlike pag may advantage ka, yun ang mahirap, di mo alam kung pano mo iha-handle yung ganung pressure. It’s always a do-or-die for us. Andito na kami, wala ng ayawan ito, panindigan na lang namin ito,” he said.

With emotions high after two straight setbacks, Belga wants all their efforts focused on the ultimate prize.

“Masyadong masakit para sa amin, para kay coach, na matalo pa kami sa series na ito,” Belga said.

“Sabi namin, wag na kami magsisihan. Dumating kami at umabot dito, ang dami na naming pinagdaanan, naka-ilang palit na ng import. Dalawang malaking kumpanya na ang na-eliminate namin. Kung kinaya namin yun, bakit hindi? Nanalo nga kami ng tatlong sunod sa Alaska eh, ano ba naman yung isa? Reset nang mindset na lang. Kung anong dapat gawin, yun na lang siguro yung isipin namin.”