VETERAN Beau Belga is ready to play extra minutes in Game 3 if it means covering up the big hole left by Rain or Shine import Aaron Fuller following the eye injury he suffered in the course of the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals series against Magnolia.
As the most seasoned player among the Elasto Painters’ big men, the 37-year-old Belga could be tapped to take on the task of guarding Hotshots import Jabari Bird or any among Ian Sangalang and sophomore Zavier Lucero.
Fuller, 34, has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Hotshots at the Ynares Center in Antipolo as his vision remains blurred and his left eyes still a bit swollen after being poked by Sangalang in the late part of the first quarter during Game 2 at the Sta. Rosa Multi-Purpose Sports Complex in Laguna.
READ: Aaron Fuller out for Rain or Shine in crucial Game 3 vs. Magnolia
“Expect the worst kapag wala si Aaron,” Belga said. “Of course, you expect the heavy minutes, pero ang kagandahan kasi namin ngayon marami kami so everybody is healthy also. Kaya ok din.”
Belga is expected to get help from the other Rain or Shine bigs including sophomores Keith Datu and Luis Villegas, along with rookie Caelan Tiongson.
Of course, it’s different if Fuller is healthy especially in terms of crashing the boards for Rain or Shine as the import leads the league in rebounding wih 17.0 per game, while also adding 21.1 points and 2.5 assists.
“Mahirap talaga. Ang sa akin alang, ma-survive lang namin ito. And then hopefully, makapag-laro si Aaron on Tuesday,” said Belga.
The good thing according to Belga was the fact Rain or Shine managed to eke out a 109-105 win in the series opener.
“Good thing is tabla yung series. Hindi pa naman kami yung sudden-death situation na,” he said. “And advantage namin naka-una kami," he said.
“Tumabla lang sila. So bagsak sa best-of-three ngayon,” Belga added.
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