Rain or Shine’s Belga loves playing amid boos from pro-Ginebra crowd

Beau Belga shoots over defenders. PBA Images/Nuki Sabio

MANILA, Philippines — The predominant Barangay Ginebra crowd at the Cuneta Astrodome booed and mocked Rain or Shine big man Beau Belga all game long on Sunday night.

Belga welcomed it with open arms and he even had the last laugh after the Elasto Painters outwitted the Kings late for an 82-79 win.

READ: Playoff-bound Rain or Shine withstands Ginebra behind Chism’s late game effort

“Tuwang tuwa ako sa ganyan. Sa lahat yan ang gusto ko,” said Belga with a huge grin on his face when asked how it feels to have thousands of crowd against him.

“Sa lahat ng laro ang gusto ko yung kalaban ko yung buong arena yung tipong ako lang mag-isa yun ang gusto ko. Mas challenging,” Belga added. “After ng game mas maraming iiyak, mas marami akong paiiyakin.”

It was an elimination round game that definitely had a playoff-type of atmosphere the way the crowd was into it and how the two teams badly wanted to beat each other.

Things got a little out of hand late when water bottles were thrown on the court after Belga and Ginebra guard Mark Caguioa got tangled up.

Around five people were escorted out of the court due to the incident.

“Kahit anong mangyari I just wanna play. I just wanna play beyond my emotion. Kung ano yung matutulong ko yun lang gagawin ko,” Belga said. “So far hindi ko pinaiiral yung galit ko.”

Belga finished with 11 points, three rebounds and two blocks. His last block preserved his team’s win — denying Mac Baracael’s potential game-tying triple as time ran out.

Belga also said he doesn’t mind playing the role of a villain as long as it helps Rain or Shine win more games. The win over Ginebra assured the Painters a playoff spot with a 6-3 record.

Belga added he is not a sore loser.

“At the same time kapag natalo, tanggapin mo. Sabi ko nga sa sarili ko I’m not going to open my Facebook and Twitter account for now sigurado masarap ang makikita ko at mababasa ko sa Facebook at Twitter,” Belga said.

“Basta nananalo kami at walang problema, kahit na kalaban ko buong mundo tatanggapin ko.”