No one player can replace SJ Belangel, says Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo

The decision of SJ Belangel to forego playing his remaining years of eligibility with the Ateneo Blue Eagles will be a disruption to the team’s basketball program, which has been geared towards continuity, Ateneo team manager Epok Quimpo admitted.

With Belangel decided on playing in the Korean Basketball League, where he will lead the next wave of Filipino players trying their luck playing overseas, Blue Eagles team manager Epok Quimpo believes the departure of the former Gilas Pilipinas guard will create a big hole in Ateneo’s program.

“It’s something we didn’t prepare for,” said Quimpo. “We have a program that was created built on continuity and with SJ leaving ahead, it has certainly disrupted our program. We usually get players from our Team B and high school players moving up.”

According to Quimpo, Belangel informed them of his plans right after the season when KBL team Daegu KOGAS Pegasus seriously approached him and made a formal offer to the Pinoy guard of a two-year contract to play in Korea.  

For Quimpo, no single player can replace Belangel, who was a member of three Ateneo championship squads.

“No one can replace him. It takes two or three players to do that and the guards will have to do it collectively,” added Quimpo.

Belangel last saw action for Ateneo a month ago, leading the Blue Eagles to another finals run, but fell short of delivering a four-peat with Ateneo after the University of the Philippines Fighting Maroons edged them in an epic Game 3 finale.

—JMB, GMA News