By Adrian Stewart Co
Bacolodnon guard Samjosef Belangel of Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles said it was a dream come true for him to be called up to play for the national men’s basketball team.
The 21-year-old Belangel admitted he never expected before that he will be able to play for Gilas and is thankful to his Blue Eagles mentor Thomas “Tab” Baldwin for giving him a chance to represent the country.
“I’m honored and privileged to be part of the Gilas Pilipinas. Before it was just a dream but it is now a reality,” the Bacolod City-native Belangel said in an interview with Sportsjourn.
The former Bacolod Tay Tung High School Thunderbolts guard became an instant celebrity after scoring a buzzer-beating triple in Gilas Pilipinas’ 81-78 win against South Korea in the final window of 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Clark, Pampanga.
Belangel continued his solid game for the national men’s basketball team in their lopsided victory against Indonesia and in their repeat victory over South Korea to close the qualifiers with 6-0 slate.
After that, Belangel also suited up for the Gilas Pilipinas during the 2021 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia, where they were defeated by Serbia and Dominican Republic.
“I’m just doing my role inside the team, I’m just following the instructions of my coaches and the game plan. The Gilas Pilipinas system is well set and organized,” he said.
“Mga coaches namin kasi mga magagaling like Coach Jong [Uychico] na beterano na sa international and Coach Sandy [Arespacochaga]. Also, Coach Caloy [Garcia] and Coach Boyet [Fernandez] really compliment the Gilas program,” Belangel added./ASC, WDJ