Seasoned big man Beau Belga had a career night registering a triple-double in Rain or Shine’s first back-to-back wins in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup.
But more than attaining a personal milestone, the veteran’s inspired game was his way of teaching by example for the new generation of Elasto Painters to emulate.
In fact, the 13-year Rain or Shine mainstay was pleased to hear that two of his young teammates marked their personal-highs in the Elasto Painters’ 110-90 blowout of winless Converge Wednesday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
On the same night that Belga became the first local player in franchise history to record the feat, young guns Shaun Ildefonso and Andrei Caracut also reached their career bests.
Caracut dished out a personal-best 13 assists to go with 15 markers for his third career double-double while forward Ildefonso contributed a career-high 15 points.
“That’s what I really wanted to do. I need to teach them what I know in the league, on how to handle pressure, how to play in the professional league, because it’s really different from what they’re used to,” Belga said following his 25-point, 12-rebound and 10-assist performance.
“I do get upset sometimes but at the end of the day, it’ll pass. Just like coach Yeng but that’s just part of our job (to teach the young ones).”
Belga completed the triple-double feat with a handoff pass to Caracut, who nailed a triple to push Rain or Shine’s advantage to 87-67 with 9:11 left in the game.
The bulky forward closed his memorable night with a layup in the last 2:58 with the Elasto Painters comfortably ahead, 103-81, before calling it a day.
“With my teammates’ help everything got a little bit easier. I’m not really aware of the triple-double. There were times that I neared getting one but I don’t force it,” he said.
