The San Miguel Beermen are in the midst of the most dominant run in the last two decades. Arwind Santos could not help but cherish each and every moment of it.
“Sobrang tamis na lahat ng tao gustong gusto nilang kagatin kasi alam nila, pag nakagat nila, kahit di sila kumain ng isang linggo, nakangiti pa rin sila.
“Yung pakiramdam talaga nito na talagang di mo ipagpapalit. Kahit di ka matulog ka ng dalawang araw, nakangiti ka pa rin kaya siguro kailangan rin naming ibalik sa mga taong nagmamahal at sumusuporta sa amin. Kailangan mai-share rin namin sa kanila yung happiness na binigay ni God,” the 11-year league veteran shared in true Arwind Santos fashion.
In two conferences, the San Miguel Beermen have flat out dominated, tallying a 36-10 record (19-3 in the elimination round, 17-7 in the post-season) en route to two championships. Not even the 1996 Alaska squad nor the 2013-14 San Miguel Coffee batch could say that they have their first two championships the way this San Miguel team has.
Sunday night, the San Miguel Beermen and Arwind Santos have overcome their Commissioner’s Cup curse, sealing the middle-season crown in, yes, a dominant fashion, 115-91. Santos himself was a huge part to this success, averaging 15.5 points on 56.72 percent shooting and 6.5 rebounds. And the former league Most Valuable Player did it while playing the majority of the series from off the bench.
“Sabi ko nga, sa team na ito there is a lot of sacrificing,” said San Miguel head coach Leo Austria. “Arwind is always off the bench, he’s averaging twenty minutes per game.
“That’s unusual for him.”
But in order to be part of history, Santos knows that sacrifices have to be made. After winning league MVP, two Best Player of the Conference awards, two Defensive Player of the Year awards, and being named to 10 all-star teams, Santos has now moved on to chasing the ghosts of the greatest players to ever step foot in the PBA.
And for him, it’s winning the Grand Slam, a feat that only five teams have done in league history.
“Grand Slam isa yan sa history na hindi pa namin nakukuha.
“Kasi pag nagkaroon, ma-cocompare ka sa mga players dati, kila Ramon Fernandez, Hector Calma mga ganyan,” the 36-year-old shared. “Hindi sa sinasapawan namin sila. Ito yung motivation namin na hangga’t maari na makakuha kami na hindi pa nakukuha ng mga players noon.
“Pag may history ka, kahit matanda ka na, wala ka na sa mundo, patay ka na, isa yun sa mga maalala ng mga taong mahilig mag-basketball.”
Still, winning the second championship is just another step of their journey to greatness. They still have to conquer the Governors’ Cup, a championship they last won in 2015.
“Next conference, sinasabi nila na nag champion kami, puwede kami magrelax, hindi ganun e.
“Lalo kaming ginagahan, kasi maliban sa gumaganda yung sumahan namin, nakukuha namin yung history, isa yun sa nagpapagana sa amin,” shared the proud son of Angeles, Pampanga.
And not resting is what separates the greats from the rest of the pack.
