BELGA IS NOW PART OF GILAS POOL
After making good impression in the PBA All-Star Game and in the PBA stars’ goodwill game versus the Shanghai Sharks, Beau Belga is now a member of the Gilas Pilipinas training pool with a chance to make the Phl quintet competing in the FIBA Asia Championship at the MOA Arena in Pasay in August.
With Kelly Williams, Jared Dillinger, Ryan Reyes, Sonny Thoss and Greg Slaughter out, Belga is the 13th man in the Gilas roster embarking on a two-week training trip to Lithuania.
Coach Chot Reyes included Belga in the pool Thursday night shortly after Gilas’ last practice at The Arena in San Juan prior to their departure for the former Russian republic Sunday.
“Syempre, dahil member sya ng pool,” said Reyes when asked if the Rain or Shine enforcer has a crack at the Final 12 for the FIBA Asia joust serving as the regional qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Cup.
Reyes said Belga was the only player made available for the Lithuanian trip from among PBA stars they invited to help the injury-hit Gilas pool at the resumption of their training a few days back.
“Sya lang ang pinayagan,” said Reyes.
Reyes first offered the slot to Alaska’s Calvin Abueva who declined due to an earlier set trip to Beijing for a treatment to his knee injury.
Thoss is also going to the Chinese capital for a treatment to his own injury thus he passed up on the Lithuania trip, while Slaughter is finishing his commitment with the NLEX team in the PBA D-League.
Marcus Douthit, Junmar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Gary David, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Larry Fonacier, Jason Castro, Jimmy Alapag and LA Tenorio are the players Belga is joining in the Lithuanian training.
Belga merited second look from the Gilas coaching staff after his good performances in the last PBA All-Star Game and in the succeeding PBA Stars-Shanghai Sharks goodwill match.
Before turning pro in 2008 as the Purefoods Giants’ seventh pick overall, the hard-nosed frontcourt operator was a long-time mainstay of the Harbour Centre team that made an incredible run in the PBL and in the Asean basketball circle.
The former PCU Dolphin was the starting center of the triumphant Philippine team to the 2007 Nakhon Ratchasima SEA Games. (SB)
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