BEAU Belga came up loaded for Wednesday night’s Game 3.
Hitting crucial three-pointers in the homestretch, Belga brought out his trademark ‘shotgun’ in the din of Rain or Shine’s celebration following a 112-104 win over San Miguel that kept the Elasto Painters alive in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals.
The Elasto Painters hit 12 three-pointers at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the last one courtesy of Belga in the final 11 seconds that all but clinched the win for the sixth-seeded team.
Shortly after sinking the game-clincher, Belga ran downcourt brandishing his illusory handgun to the delight of the crowd that included naturalized player and Gilas Pilipinas teammate Andray Blatche.
Belga, who finished with 16 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc, said it was all for fun.
“It’s just like in a heated game, (you hit the) dagger,” said the veteran big man. “Yun yung trademark, nilabas lang ulit sa baul (kasi) tinago ko.
“Next game ulit, dadalhin sa maleta.”
Belga said he wasn’t aiming at Blatche when he did the act, actually his second in the final four minutes after doing it earlier when he buried a crucial three-pointer that shoved the Elasto Painters in front, 98-97, after trailing by five.
“Binibiro niya kasi ako, ‘Take one more, take one more,’ sabi niya sa akin. Sabi ko later I’ll do it again,” he recalled about the incident.
“Nataon, crucial pa. So masaya lang.”
Belga could only keep his fingers crossed the Elasto Painters would be able to sustain the gains they made in Game Three.
“Sana ganun ulit. May suwerte ulit sa susunod,” he said.
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