SJ Belangel was born in Bacolod[1] on June 27, 1999[2] to Sammy Belangel and Mayette Belangel (née Rasmo).[3] His father is a former college basketball player star.[1]
Belangel studied in the Ateneo education system, first moving to the Ateneo High School in ninth grade.[4] He graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University with a degree in interdisciplinary studies in 2022.[5]
Hailing from Bacolod, SJ Belangel has suited up for the teams of Eliakim Learning School, USLS-Integrated School, St. Joseph's Academy–Iloilo, and Bacolod Tay Tung High School prior to joining Ateneo High School.[6][7]
He also took part and won the Batang Pinoy3x3 national competition held in Bacolod in 2014.[7]
He moved to Ateneo High School and played for the Blue Eaglets after he scouted by its coach Joe Silva. He turned down offers to attend La Salle Green Hills and De La Salle Zobel despite his family having a largely La Sallian background.[4] He ended his stint with the Eaglets in 2018 by helping them clinch the UAAP Season 80 junior title and earned a place in the Mythical Five for himself.[3][8]
Belangel would commit to Ateneo, and entered Ateneo de Manila University for his college studies. He made his UAAP senior debut for the Tab Baldwin-mentored Ateneo Blue EaglesinSeason 81.[8] He played for three UAAP season featuring in 48 games played, Belangel averaged 7.38 points and 2.08 assists per contest.[5]
^"프로농구 가스공사, 필리핀 선수 영입" [Professional basketball gas corporation recruits Filipino player] (in Korean). KBS News. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
^Se-jin, Oh. "버저비터로 한국 울렸던 필리핀 벨란겔, 가스공사서 뛴다" [Filipino player Bellangel, who beat Korea in a buzzer beater, to play for (Korea) Gas Corporation] (in Korean). Seoul Shinmun. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
