Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio gives up silver medal for reserve Beau Belga

As manager of the Philippine national men’s basketball team, Butch Antonio received a silver medal in the FIBA Asia Championship after the squad’s second-place finish.

But the Gilas Pilipinas official decided to give his hardware to someone he felt deserved it more — reserve center Beau Belga.

Only the 12 players in the official roster were entitled to medals from FIBA Asia. That left out the Rain or Shine banger was the last man cut from the lineup by coach Chot Reyes.

A late addition to the team, Belga joined the Gilas training trips in Lithuania and New Zealand, bonding well with his teammates.

Despite not being part of the roster anymore, Belga stayed with the team throughout the competition, and was often seen behind the Gilas bench giving instructions to younger big men such as Japeth Aguilar and June Mar Fajardo.

For Belga, it was his second medal in international play. In 2007, he won the gold as part of the Philippine team to the Southeast Asian games in a lineup that included current Gilas teammates Jayson Castro, Gabe Norwood, and Jeff Chan.

Source: http://www.interaksyon.com/interaktv/gilas-pilipinas-team-manager-butch-antonio-gives-up-silver-medal-for-reserve-beau-belga