For Beau Belga, Rain or Shine’s recent trade of Gian Mamuyac was more than just another roster move—it meant saying goodbye to someone he had come to treat like family.
Having spent four seasons together with the Elasto Painters, Belga admitted that Mamuyac’s departure to Phoenix Super LPG left an emotional void inside the team, even if he understands that trades are simply part of life in the PBA.
“Malalim pinagsamahan namin,” the veteran forward said. “That kid is very close sa akin.”
The trade sent Mamuyac, along with a Season 53 second-round pick, to the Fuel Masters in exchange for Phoenix’s first-round selection in the same draft.
Just days later, the two sides met for the first time since the deal, with Rain or Shine coming away with a 105-98 victory over Phoenix. While the game marked Mamuyac’s first matchup against the franchise that drafted him, it also became a reunion with teammates who had shared the court—and the locker room—with him for years.
Before tip-off, Rain or Shine head coach Yeng Guiao even joked that Belga had requested to be on the floor whenever Mamuyac checked into the game, just to match up against his former teammate.
The veteran, however, never got that opportunity after remaining on the bench throughout the contest.
Instead, Belga settled for another kind of interaction—one that reflected the friendship they had built long before the trade became official.
He revealed that, looking back, he had unknowingly been teasing Mamuyac during practices in the days leading up to the deal.
“Binibiro ko nga siya the past few days before he got traded. Parang out of nowhere, bigla ko na lang kinakanti. Sabi ko, ‘Kaya pala sinasaktan na kita kasi mate-trade ka na.’ ‘Yun ang biro ko sa kanya. Sabi niya, ‘Oo nga, bakit mo ako sinasaktan nung mga nakaraang araw,’” Belga said.
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Beau Belga admitted it was painful to see longtime teammate Gian Mamuyac get traded after spending years together with Rain or Shine. While acknowledging that trades are part of life in the PBA. l Via Zeus Valdez#FastBreak #PBA #RainOrShine pic.twitter.com/9HkG7TYZzT
— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) July 21, 2026
Even after the final buzzer, the playful relationship remained unchanged.
Belga was seen jokingly throwing a knee toward Mamuyac before pulling him toward the Rain or Shine bench, drawing laughs from those nearby and showing that while uniforms may change, friendships do not.
“I’m really close to everybody in this team,” Belga said. “Kumbaga masakit na mawalan ka ng teammate na close sayo but that’s how life is sa PBA.”
Belga knows that reality better than most.
Before finding a long-term home with Rain or Shine, the 39-year-old went through multiple trades himself. Those experiences helped him understand that player movement is part of the business, even when emotions are involved.
Rather than dwelling on Mamuyac’s exit, Belga chose to remember everything the former team captain brought to the franchise, particularly the leadership he displayed during his four-year stay.
“Maganda pinagsamahan namin ni Gian. Nothing to be like sasama ang loob. Magkasama kami matagal. Kami nag-draft sa kanya. Walang masamang tinapay. And that’s how life is sa PBA.”
“Eh ako, bago ako nag-settle sa Rain or Shine, tatlong beses ako na-trade. Walang masamang tinapay sa kanya,” Belga said.
For Belga, the trade may have ended their partnership as teammates, but it did nothing to change the respect and friendship they built over the years.
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