MANILA – The task of carrying the leadership mantle for the four-peat seeking Ateneo de Manila University Blue Eagles is now on the hands of Negrense Samjosef Belangel.
The Bacolod City-native thinks he is now ready to become the Blue Eagles’ new leader after spending the first two years of his University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) career playing the supporting role.
“I got a lot of mentoring (about leadership) from my seniors Matt and Mike [Nieto] and Thirdy [Ravena],” Belangel said during the CPT Crossover podcast of Cedelf Tupas.
The Ilonggo Ravena and the Nieto brothers already graduated from the school’s basketball program.
“I was also able to learn more about leadership from (San Miguel-Alab Pilipinas head) coach Jimmy (Alapag). I learned the importance of leading by example – leading the team by working the hardest,” he added.
Belangel already showed glimpse of what he can do for the team. He had a career-best 15 points (built on five triples) during Ateneo’s title-clinching victory over University of Santo Tomas Growling Tigers in Game 2 of the UAAP Season 82 finals last year.
He continued his exploits in the offseason and was named as the Most Valuable Player for leading Ateneo to the Philippine Collegiate Champions League crown.
During his high school years, Belangel was already a known scorer for Western Visayas. He dropped 99 points in a single game during a 13-and-under tournament in Iloilo City in 2012 and 85 points in a Bacolod match a year later.
Belangel had stints with Eliakim Learning School, University of St. La Salle-Bacolod, St. Joseph’s Academy in Iloilo City, and Bacolod Tay Tung High School before transferring to Ateneo High School./PN
