“One of my strengths is the touch I have on my floater. That touch wasn’t given to me—it’s something I built through hard work.”

For SJ Belangel, the floater is more than just another shot. It's his signature move.

Before and after practice, and even ahead of exhibition games, Belangel can often be found working on floaters from every angle around the free-throw line. The results are striking—his accuracy rarely wavers.

His confidence in the shot has been evident for some time. During preparations for last season, he was even seen practicing free throws with a floater, a testament to just how comfortable he has become with the touch.

That signature shot delivered one of the biggest moments of his season as well. With 1.9 seconds remaining against Changwon LG on Feb. 10, Belangel calmly floated in the game-winning basket to complete a dramatic 72-71 comeback victory.

His teammates have taken notice.

Guard Yang Woo-hyuk, who joined Daegu KOGAS last season, admitted Belangel’s floater immediately caught his attention.

“His floater is unbelievably accurate,” Yang said. “In the U.S., I learned to shoot floaters without spin, but it never worked well for me. I’m not very tall, and my hands aren’t that big, so I struggled with both distance and accuracy. He told me he puts spin on the ball, and that made me want to start practicing it that way too.”

Belangel was back at it Wednesday after training at Daegu Gymnasium, once again putting up floater after floater.

 

Asked why he keeps practicing floaters from long range, Belangel smiled.

“The floater is one of my biggest weapons,” he said. “The touch I have on it wasn't given to me. I earned it through countless repetitions. Every day, I imagine game situations and keep learning which angles, spots and releases give me the best chance to score.”

Fellow Filipino Kevin Quiambao famously attempted floaters from beyond the arc last season.

Belangel laughed off the idea then, saying it wasn't a shot he could realistically use in games. After another offseason of refining his touch, however, it may no longer be out of the question.

“I usually start close to the basket and gradually move back toward the free-throw line,” Belangel said. “When I’m feeling good, I’ll even practice from beyond the three-point line while visualizing game situations.”

Belangel averaged 15.8 points per game last season, leading KOGAS in scoring. Yet despite already establishing himself as one of the league’s most reliable guards, he continues searching for ways to sharpen the skill that has become uniquely his own.

For KOGAS, that's reassuring. Their leading scorer still believes his greatest weapon can get even better.
 

Written by Lee Jaebum
This English version article has been reviewed with AI assistance.

 

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