He called bank: SJ Belangel aimed for backboard on game-winner vs Korea
SJ Belangel’s game winner gives Gilas Pilipinas rare win over South Korea. FIBA ASIA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—SJ Belangel was a man on a mission.
When he saw that their final play got broken up, Gilas’ young point guard took it upon himself to create history as his buzzer-beating triple lifted the Philippines to a dramatic 81-78 win over tormentor South Korea in the 2021 Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
And yes, he called bank.
“I aimed for the backboard, because there wasn’t any angle at all. It would be difficult if I shoot it straight away so when I saw the backboard I aimed for the box then it went in,” said Belangel in Filipino Wednesday after the game.
“I never lost confidence. Whatever happens it all boils down on making it and the confidence I had in myself. After our initial play got broken up, I thought to myself that we needed a basket and luckily Dwight [Ramos] gave it to me.”
Gilas, however, had to dig deep just to get into that position, after South Korea led by as much as 17, 33-16, midway through the second and held on to the lead for majority of the match.
The Philippines snatched the lead in the fourth but it was Belangel’s driving layup with 48.5 seconds to play that gave Gilas a much-needed 77-75 leeway.
Lee Junghyun tied it at 78-78 with 2.9 seconds remaining forcing Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin to use his final two timeouts and draw up a play that was meant for center Angelo Kouame to score underneath.
Belangel’s late-game play pushed the Philippines to a 4-0 record in Group A and officially clinched the Fiba Asia Cup slot.
