Why Beau Belga is an All Star

2x PBA MVP and.. the All Star

When was the last time that you really found it in your heart to cheer for the bad guy?

Denzel Washington in Training Day? Wreck-it-Ralph before he turned over a new leaf? Cruela DeVille or that villainess from The Devil Wears Prada (for our female readers)? How about in the Philippine Basketball Association-- have you ever really cheered for the bruisers, the enforcer: the guy who's brought into the game to dish out fouls faster than a  food attendant on a McDonald's freebie breakfast burger day?

For the record, the Rain or Shine Elastopainters' beefy center Beau Belga has logged in career averages of 6 points and 5 rebounds in almost 21 minutes of burn since being drafted 7th overall by Purefoods in 2008. He's never averaged in double figures and would probably be the last guy most PBA Fantasy Team owners would want to take into their rosters.

But outside of the numbers, the 6"6, 225 lbs (WEH) Philippine Christian University alumnus does just about everything a coach would want from a winning contributor. He provides his guards with brain-rattling picks and screens, boxes opponents out so teammates could get to the ball and even makes heady passes from time to time from all over the court be it on a full court fastbreak pass or a no-look, "blink-and-you-miss" drop pass to the baseline cutter.

Oh, and he has a knack for sinking flat-footed threes to boot.

We dare you to ask any active player and they'd probably say that they'd love to play alongside a bruiser like Belga. Sucks to be his opponent, but just imagine how easy guys like Paul Lee, Jeffrei Chan, the skinny Gabe Norwood and poster boy Chris Tiu are having it. They have the best pick-and-pop man in the game freeing them up for looks, and they can get away with murder on the floor because they know outright that Belga has their backs when push comes to shove.

While Belga wont get the Digos crowd chanting his name or providing any theatrics, he'll be there to help the PBA All Star selection to win versus the SMART Gilas. He's the lone, legit center on the line-up, and he'll be bodying up against arguably Asia's 3rd best center in Marcus Douthit (behind those two guys from Iran, Haddadi and his porn-stache sporting back up who proved to be very much improved).

Is Belga a dirty player?

We haven't seen him spitting on anyone. Or hacking people's heads off. He's been hacking at arms, shoving people and getting away with pretty much using those thick arms to get opponents out of rhythm or scoring position.

But whenever the referees make the call, Belga goes back to just playing his role. There are no icy stares or "yeah punk, I did that" looks. It's just good, old-fashioned basketball the only way he knows how.

And after five seasons in the PBA, Belga can raise his head up high (and swing those elbows) and say that yes, he is a PBA All Star.