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FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers: ‘Big Shot’ Belangel no stranger to pressure moments

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/sports/06/16/belangel-2.jpg"/><figcaption>Known as a reliable shot-maker when the Blue Eagles needed him the most, Belangel on Wednesday showed to a wider, more success-starved hoops fanbase — the entire Philippines — just what he&#x27;s made of. <em>Courtesy of FIBA</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>To those who have followed Ateneo basketball the past few years, SJ Belangel&#x27;s game-winning basket for the Philippines men&#x27;s national basketball team that sunk South Korea on Wednesday should not have come as a surprise. </p><p>The third-year Blue Eagles point guard delivered the death blow in Gilas&#x27; initial game of the Clark leg of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers, his 3-pointer at the buzzer giving the hosts an 81-78 victory over their vaunted basketball rivals. </p><p>Belangel may all be just 21 years old, but he has been playing with a cold-blooded poise for years now that&#x27;s not even in the character of more veteran players. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/20/19/uaap-82-big-shot-belangel-saves-best-game-for-big-brother-matt">UAAP 82: ‘Big shot’ Belangel saves best game for ‘big brother’ Matt</a></li></ul><p>In Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 men&#x27;s basketball finals in 2019, Belangel came up big, scoring 15 points — all 3-pointers — to lead the Blue Eagles to an 86-79 triumph past University of Santo Tomas, a result that helped seal a 16-0 campaign and another league championship for Ateneo. </p><p>Two of Belangel&#x27;s 3-pointers helped to douse the Growling Tiger&#x27;s rally in the second half. </p><p>Thirdy Ravena, Belangel&#x27;s multiple UAAP finals MVP teammate on the Blue Eagles squad, said at the time: &quot;He made a lot of tough shots, na masasabi natin na parang pamatay-sunog. </p><p>&quot;Those were the times na parang naiisip namin na, &#x27;Nako humahabol na, humahabol na.&#x27; But SJ was there to make a tough shot, and we were all like, parang makakahinga kami ng kaunti.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/02/11/18/belangel-sends-ateneo-to-uaap-juniors-basketball-finals">Belangel sends Ateneo to UAAP juniors basketball finals</a></li></ul><p>In Season 80 juniors basketball in 2018, Belangel finished with 31 points, including a mind-blowing 12 in the final 3 minutes as the Blue Eaglets survived a late rally by National University to win 78-68 and secure a 14-0 sweep of the elimination round. </p><p>At the time, one of Belangel&#x27;s teammate was Kai Sotto, making this a winning reunion of sorts for the former Ateneo high-schoolers. </p><p>At the end of the Blue Eagles&#x27; Season 82 campaign, Belangel, who considers 3-time UAAP champion teammate Matt Nieto a mentor, had a modest answer when asked about his ability to come through in the clutch. </p><p>&quot;For me, I just have to be ready,&quot; the 5-foot-10 point guard said.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lang ako, kundi &#x27;yung buong team. Walang nag-iisang star player, basta lahat kami mag-contribute, &#x27;yan ang ie-expect niyo sa amin next year, lahat kami ko-contribute,&quot; he added, referring to Season 83 that never materialized because of the pandemic. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/11/22/19/uaap-baldwin-with-bad-news-for-league-well-have-a-great-team-next-year">UAAP: Baldwin with bad news for league? ‘We’ll have a great team next year’</a></li></ul><p>Ravena said in an interview last year that he liked the way Belangel and others who have come up the Ateneo basketball program have handled themselves on the court.</p><p>&quot;Sila SJ, lalo na sila Mamu (Gian Mamuyac), talagang mga beterano na &#x27;yan,&quot; Ravena said. </p><p>&quot;Kahit sa Eaglets, parang parehas lang din &#x27;yung culture, kasi &#x27;yung turo sa college noon, &#x27;yun din &#x27;yung turo sa high school. So talagang alam na nila &#x27;yun.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/05/20/uaap-ravena-confident-ateneos-young-stars-can-maintain-winning-culture">UAAP: Ravena confident Ateneo&#x27;s young stars can maintain winning culture</a></li></ul><p>Fast-forward to Wednesday night, with the basketball stakes much, much higher, Belangel showed to a wider, more success-starved hoops fanbase — the entire Philippines — just what he&#x27;s made of. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/17/21/fiba-asia-cup-qualifiers-kai-showing-heart-kouame-shooting-please-coach-tab">FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers: Kai showing ‘heart’, Kouame shooting please coach Tab</a></li></ul><div><strong>— With a report from Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News</strong></div><div><strong>FROM THE ARCHIVES</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1688552" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>To those who have followed Ateneo basketball the past few years, Belangel's game-winner against Korea should not have come as a surprise.</p>

To those who have followed Ateneo basketball the past few years, Belangel's game-winner against Korea should not have come as a surprise.