One other Ateneo Blue Eagle has made historical past. This time, it is SJ Belangel who’ll grow to be the primary Asian quota import within the Korean Basketball League.
Two years in the past, Thirdy Ravena — he of three championships introduced dwelling to Katipunan Ave. — blazed the path for Filipino gamers in Japan. Then, Belangel had no thought in any respect he’d be leaving the blue and white nest to unfold his wings abroad. He had desires, after all; ideas that performed behind his thoughts. However ideas they remained, particularly since he spent his first two years for Tab Baldwin coming off the bench earlier than being entrusted because the lead guard in his third season.
After averaging 10.3 factors, 3.0 assists, and a couple of.7 rebounds, although, he not solely proved himself as a worthy successor to the lineage from LA Tenorio to Chris Tiu to Matt Nieto, he additionally placed on show simply why his otherworldly skills have been, nicely, meant for the world.
“To be trustworthy, I by no means considered that,” he answered after being requested how he felt about being the primary Filipino to swimsuit up in Korea. “I am simply honored and excited to play in Korea, whereas additionally representing the Philippines.”
The 5-foot-10 playmaker bought right here due to his expertise, and on the identical time, the work he has been placing in to enhance these. Even outdoors Ateneo and even through the pandemic, he was at it, carrying the flag for Gilas Pilipinas. And of their first sport within the third window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, which simply occurred to be towards Korea, he banked in a buzzer-beating game-winner.
From that time on, the letters “S” and “J” — brief for Samjosef — have been tattooed on the minds of Koreans. They know him. They’re going to at all times know him. Who knew, although, {that a} 12 months later, they’re going to know him much more.
Apart from being a game-winner for the Philippines and heartbreaker for Korea, Belangel is a two-time UAAP champion for Ateneo. Nonetheless, the in the beginning details Koreans should get to learn about him are literally these: his drive and dedication.
Miguel Asis, the coed supervisor who as a rule is with him throughout pre-game ritual morning shoot-arounds, mentioned these two issues are what is going to, but once more, let the 22-year-old Filipino guard succeed within the KBL.
“He at all times does greater than what’s anticipated of him,” he shared. “I consider our (workforce) practices are sufficient with regards to sport prep, however SJ takes it a step additional. He at all times tries to seek out any slight benefit to raise his sport above his rivals.”
Asis was firsthand witness to only that as he has been Belangel’s rebounder and passer for sport day mornings when the latter makes it some extent to knock down 10 photographs from seven spots — most notably earlier than Recreation 3 of the UAAP 84 finals. The Blue Eagles misplaced then, however not for his or her beginning guard’s lack of attempting, as he had a collegiate career-high 27 factors to go alongside 4 assists and three rebounds.
“Wherever he is been, he is at all times delivered,” famous Asis. “I really did not want him good luck as a result of I do not assume he wants it. There is not any doubt in my thoughts he’ll do nice as a result of he has been doing all of it his life.”
For sure, the satisfaction of Bacolod will carry that drive and dedication the very second he steps down after 4 or so hours on the aircraft from Manila to Seoul. As soon as there, Daegu KOGAS Pegasus is not going to solely be getting a court docket basic who’ll set the tone in-game, but in addition a ground chief who’ll set an instance off-court.
“I am going to have to regulate to a brand new system and a language barrier, however I am simply gonna do my position. No matter coach desires me to do, I am going to do my greatest,” he remarked. “KBL is understood to be very aggressive, however I consider it is in powerful moments the place you develop as a participant.”
Belangel is certain for Korea a while in August, when he’d start coaching with the Pegasus for the KBL’s new season tipping off in October and operating for about eight months. As soon as he leaves the Philippines, what is going to it then imply for these he’ll be forsaking, in addition to the brand new period he’ll be ushering in?
Korea opens up as one other avenue for Filipino gamers
There are (or have been) Filipinos in Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Serbia. There was a Filipino in Australia — and he could also be taking his skills to the NBA (better of luck to Kai Sotto!). Now, there will be a Filipino in Korea, too. Seems to be just like the Philippines is constant to ramp up its exports of ballers, and that is all as a result of they’ve confirmed their value wherever they might be.
“I believe that is one other massive step, massive alternative for Filipino athletes like me,” expressed Belangel on his history-making signing. “This means that many international locations at the moment are seeing the skills of younger Filipino athletes. (My enjoying in Korea) opens one other door for younger Filipino athletes who wish to play internationally.”
Make no mistake, the PBA dream will at all times be high of thoughts for Filipino gamers. However having extra selections is a wholesome growth — and truly a testomony to the great well being, total, of Philippine basketball.
Ateneo palms over level guard reins to Forthsky Padrigao
Most undoubtedly, dropping Belangel hurts, particularly only a season eliminated after dropping ‘Matty Ice’ Nieto. No one of their proper minds will doubt Ateneo’s ‘subsequent man up’ tradition, although, particularly if the subsequent man up is Padrigao, who already flashed brilliance and totaled 29 factors, 18 assists, 9 steals, and eight rebounds in 12 video games as a rookie.
His schooling into being extra elementary than flashy will proceed, and he is but to show himself in big-time moments, however there is not any query about his expertise. He is extra of a table-setter than the bucket-getter Belangel was, however which means he could very nicely unleash Season MVP Ange Kouame much more. Now, there is a scary thought. Bear in mind, when Sotto was nonetheless a Blue Eaglet, he ate, and ate nicely, as a result of Padrigao saved feeding him, whether or not or not it’s by means of entry passes on the publish or forays into the paint main into drop-offs.
UAAP loses a famous person, but in addition leans in the direction of extra competitors
On paper, Ateneo bought weaker. Let’s simply get that out of the best way. That signifies that — once more, on paper — the hole between them and the principally intact defending champion UP Combating Maroons bought wider. Nonetheless, getting dethroned could very nicely have lit a fireplace beneath the Blue Eagles; one thing they might very nicely have been lacking after dominating for thus lengthy.
Do not assume for a second that Ateneo is not a contender. They nonetheless are. They’re going to be proper in thick of issues for the championship. So will semifinalists La Salle Inexperienced Archers and FEU Tamaraws. So will up-and-comers Adamson Hovering Falcons and Nationwide U Bulldogs. And who know? Perhaps the UST Growling Tigers and UE Crimson Warriors will even be nice surprises.
Gilas assured to have SJ Belangel. Nonetheless
Belangel’s new uniform could also be purple, however he has nonetheless vowed to placed on the Gilas blue any time and each time the nationwide workforce calls his title. As he put it, “Gilas dedication, no. 1 sa atin yan. Siyempre, since nasa Bacolod pa ako, it has been a dream to signify the nation. If ma-call up ako, it is high precedence for me.”
That provides Gilas a ground chief, younger and gifted, for now and into the foreseeable future — a ground chief who performed so nicely that he simply bought recruited to play within the nation whose nationwide workforce he downed.
