Belga sees tougher ROS-Star duels down the road

Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

The fans have seen nothing yet.

That was Beau Belga’s stern observation after Rain or Shine’s 99-91 loss to Star on Sunday.

Though a lot of fans have been on the lookout for the duel, the burly big man said that the rivalry between the two franchises doesn’t end here.

“This was an elimination round game. Pag dating ng playoffs, doon mo makikita kung gaano ka-tindi ang magiging laro. Wala pa ito. Elimination pa lang ito,” he said.

Belga also didn’t shy away from giving former teammate Paul Lee a dose of his rock-hard defense, decking him as the latter drove late in the second quarter.

But the Sorsogon native cleared he meant no harm, saying, “It’s not intentional na saktan ko si Paul. Kilala nya ako. Pag ako yung may intention talaga na manakit, hindi naman ako ganoong klaseng player.”

“Siguro part lang ng game, trabaho namin ito eh. Ako yung klase ng player na pag kami yung tinatalo mo kami, dedepesahan kita at hindi ka makaka-score ng basta-basta.”

Belga also discounted the notion that the Elasto Painters came into the game overeager.

“Masama lang siguro ang nilaro namin. Sabi nga ni coach, maayos naman ang depensa namin. On offense lang, medyo tentative, naghe-hesitate. Pero all in all, ok naman,” he said.

Though Rain or Shine badly wanted to win the game for ex-Hotshots James Yap, Belga said the next time these two teams cross paths, this would no longer be the case.

“Nobody knows, baka magtagpo pa sa playoffs itong dalawang team, and I’m not closing the door na magtagpo kami sa semis. Pag nagtagpo kami sa semis, magiging magandang series yun. Tingnan natin kung sino ang mananalo,” he said.