BEAU Belga will stay with Rain or Shine for a 15th season.
The 39-year-old big man was signed to a one-year contract by the Elasto Painters on Monday, assuring the team of a veteran presence following the retirement of team captain Gabe Norwood at the end of the PBA Philippine Cup.
The new deal also extends the former PCU Dolphins star's stay at Rain or Shine to a 15th season. Belga has been with the team co-owned by Terry Que and Raymund Yu since 2011, after largely forgettable stops at Purefoods, Burger King, and Meralco.
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Belga averaged 2.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in the first conference in an off-the-bench role behind young bigs Keith Datu and Caelan Tiongson as he was coming off a season plagued by a severe case of vertigo.
His signing also comes at a time that Rain or Shine lost another big man following the ruptured right patellar tendon injury suffered by the 6-foot-8 Datu.
Unfortunately, Rain or Shine failed to make the semifinals of the Season 50 All-Filipino conference as it fell to Meralco in the quarterfinals despite holding twice-to-beat advantage.
In his 14 previous seasons with the Elasto Painters, Belga won two championships and had six finals appearances.
During the formal signing, present were Rain or Shine team governor Atty. Mamerto Mondragon and team manager Jireh Ibanes, while Belga was accompanied by his representative Danny Espiritu.
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