Gilas Pilipinas Basketball

Having missed the opportunity to be in two FIBA World Cup rosters, one might ask what’s running inside the mind of Gilas Pilipinas back-up center Beau Belga.

Belga will not be part of the Final 12 roster bound for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China starting this weekend, after being the final cut in a roster hit with injuries and minor issues.

Head coach Yeng Guiao had told reporters deciding the final roster boiled down to a choice between Belga and forward Raymond Almazan, and Guiao chose the latter.

But the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters big man has been vocal about his role ever since, opting to be a practice player and sticking around just to contribute while leaving the task at hand for those who would eventually be selected for the Final 12.

“I don’t need to please anybody. As long as kung ano ginagawa ko, masaya ako, okay na yun. Hindi ko kailangan ang kumento ng ibang tao,” Belga said.

The burly big man has assured everyone that he takes pride in what he does — sacrificing in any way possible to help the Philippine team get better.

“Okay lang yun. Nakakatulong naman eh. Wala namang kaso sa akin eh kahit hindi ma-line up. Nakatulong ako, naging parte ako, so okay na yun,” Belga shared.

Belga had still been part of Gilas line-ups throughout the Asian Qualifiers’ windows, and to him, that experience alone is already fulfilling in itself.

“Siguro (malaking ambag na yun). Masaya naman ako sa nangyari. Walang pagsisisi,” he said. “Sila naman. Sa mga susunod, pass na ako.”

It is not the first occurence Belga has been cut from a line-up; it could be remembered that back in 2013, Belga was the final cut from the FIBA Asia Championship roster, which eventually won silver in the campaign which included a historic win over Korea in the semi-finals.

A year after, Belga was part of the 2014 World Cup pool but did not make it to the active roster for Spain.

Such moments in his career have left other people thinking about the missed opportunities for Belga, but the former PCU Dolphin insists he knows what he is doing.

“I am old enough para alamin kung ano ang gusto ko, kung ano ang tama at mali. Masaya ako, so nobody can say itigil ko. Nobody can say that to me. You can comment whatever you want — bad, good, whatever. Pero ako, tuloy-tuloy ako.”

Such role only speaks of the kind of player Belga is. Not many players in the PBA alone has Belga’s level of being unselfish; he is willing to take a step back and swallow his ego for the betterment of the entire team.

More than how Belga evolved his game to being a high IQ stretch big who can contribute in many ways, it’s his trademark team player mentality that has gotten the 32-year-old a great career in the big league.

And even up to the final few years of his prime, Belga is willing to give a helping hand.

“Nagawa ko na yung part ko. Two World Cups, nakasama ako sa pool, so give chance to the new guys for them to show what they have. If kailangan nila ako sa practice, I can be there just to help again,” he said.

That is what #ParaSaBayan is all about.

By Levi Verora, Jr.