By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The Rain or Shine Elastopainters gave veteran center Beau Belga an early Christmas gift after signing him to a one-year contract extension confirmed last December 14, 2023.
Rain or Shine announced the development last Thursday during a signing ceremony together with team governor Mamerto Mondragon and team manager Jireh Ibanes.
One of the few left Rain or Shine veterans coming from their championship team way back in 2012 and 2016, the Elastopainters franchise felt it was necessary to keep Belga and help their young guns flourish in the league.
Belga, one of the wards of head coach Yeng Guiao when he helped Rain or Shine win the 2012 Governor’s Cup and the 2016 Commissioner’s Cup, is currently the team’s locker room leader together with experienced small forward Gabe Norwood.
Norwood is the team’s longest-tenured member while Belga is the second since getting traded to the Elastopainters midway through the 2010 PBA season.
Although Belga is not averaging his usual numbers when he was still in his prime, he is still earning a significant spot in coach Guiao’s rotation.
The stretch big man is averaging 6.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.5 assists for Rain or Shine in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Rain or Shine is slowly getting back into their usual form after winning their last two games despite kicking off the import-laced conference with five consecutive losses.
The Elastopainters will have a chance to enter the playoff picture if they win most of their final scheduled games against Magnolia, Terrafirma, TNT, and Converge.
