PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—From knockout playoff games to nerve-wracking Game 7’s, Beau Belga had been there and done that having played for more than a decade and counting in the PBA.
Belga has won and lost Game 7’s but no matter the result, the experience of being in such a defining game is something that the Rain or Shine bruiser never forgets.
And he wants his young teammates to realize its importance and use it as added motivation heading into Friday night’s Game 6 of the Philippine Cup semifinals against Magnolia.
“This is not the time to give up. I told them, if the series reaches Game 7, it will be something you will never forget. You will bring that experience of playing in a Game 7 with you,” Belga said in Filipino after an 82-74 loss in Game 5.
“And this is the All-Filipino conference. Next conference, you won’t matter as much because there will be imports dominating the games. The All-Filipino is really the conference that everybody is fighting for.”
The Elasto Painters fell to the Hotshots for the third time in a row in the series Wednesday night after winning the first two.
Belga admits Magnolia has the edge when it comes to experience playing on the big stage.
But Belga added it still shouldn’t be an excuse for the Elasto Painters as they try to get back on track and force a knockout game for a ticket to the finals against defending champion San Miguel Beer.
“We already won two games so we know that we can beat them. It’s just up to us how far we want to go. We’re already here at this point and it’s going to be tough if we let go of this opportunity,” he said. “They (Magnolia) are more experienced when it comes to playing in the playoffs and being in this kind of atmosphere.”
“Backs against the wall, do-or-die game, we’re going to give everything we have on Friday.”