Let’s take a look at Beau Belga's last four games for Rain or Shine in the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup, which have led to all wins for the Elasto Painters.
Rain or Shine has risen from the rubbles of four straight losses to start the PBA Season 48 Philippine Cup.
And at the forefront of a resurgence that saw the Elasto Painters string up four straight victories is Beau Belga, who has simply taken charge of the team in more ways than one.
[RELATED STORY: Beau Belga puts up near triple-double performance as Rain or Shine cruises to 4th-straight win]
Here’s how the past four games has been for Big Beau, which has coincided with another strong mid-conference surge for ROS:
April 13 - 19 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 steal, 1 block vs. Terrafirma
April 6 - 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists vs. Blackwater
April 3 - 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 1 assist, 1 block vs. Converge
March 17 - 21 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists vs. Phoenix
It all started when rookie big man Keith Datu went down with an MCL injury.
In a previous post-match interview, Belga said he felt the need to step up after their starting center was shelved by the injury.
And the 37-year-old banger has been doing a tremendous job holding the fort in Datu’s stead since then, even earning the latest PBA Press Corps-Pilipinas Live Player of the Week honor for the duration of March 31 to April 7.
In Datu’s first game out, Belga showed out and dropped 18 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals, but the Elasto Painters still bowed to San Miguel 109-97.
Belga has been on a roll after that, even posting his first triple-double in a 110-90 win over Converge last April 3.
He has been so instrumental in Rain or Shine’s ascension, he now sits eighth in the Best Player of the Conference race with 31.9 statistical points.
But of course, Belga is not the lone reason the Elasto Painters have had a red-hot streak in the ongoing All-Filipino Conference.
There’s also Santi Santillan, who is a surprise candidate for the BPC plum at fourth with 35.9 SPs, not far behind seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo (37.0 SPs).
[RELATED STORY: NLEX star Robert Bolick takes early lead in BPC race]
If these two continue to play extra for the Elasto Painters, it will no longer be surprising to see them make a deep run in the playoffs.