Since the 40th season of the PBA, the San Miguel Beermen core of Arwind Santos, Alex Cabagnot, June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter have won seven championships.
Each of the five Beermen has had the opportunity to cut the net.
And so, prior to Game Seven of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup Finals, Santos made sure to talk to their latest key addition, Terrence Romeo.
“Si Terrence, sinabi ko sa kanya kahapon, ikaw ang kukuha ng net. Kami kasi nakuha na namin yan,” shared Santos, a 13-year veteran.
Romeo added, “Napag-usapan na namin. Nagpapasalamat ako sa aking napakasayang roommate at kuya, si Kuya Arwind. Kasi kahapon pa lang, sinabi pa lang niya na ‘ikaw ang gugupit nun.’
“‘Dadalhin kita dun.'”
And so, when the buzzer sounded after San Miguel escaped the Magnolia Hotshots, 72-71, Santos looked for Romeo in the crowd. And once he found him, he dragged him to one end of the court while the rest of the squad pushed Christian Standhardinger to the other.
Yes, the two San Miguel neophytes were given the honor of cutting the net.
“Si Christian yung isa. Walang idea na siya kukuha,” continued Santos.
For Santos, who is now an eight-time champion, this is their way of paying it forward to the next batch of Beermen. They want to show them who will carry them next.
“Kami naman nila Marcio, nila Ross, dun pumapasok na kaming mga una dito, hindi kami madamot. Shine-share namin ito dahil pagdating ng panahon, sila naman ang aasahan,” gushed Santos, who finished the game with 17 points, 11 rebounds, and a block.
“Puwede rin nila gawin ito sa mga baguhan na darating sa San Miguel.”
It was particularly special for him to see the smile on Romeo’s face after winning his first championship as Santos could relate to him.
For the last six years, Romeo has won three scoring titles. But he has never even stepped foot in a Finals.
Santos was in the same predicament during his five years in the league, including the fabled ‘Petronovela’.
Well, that narrative finally changed for Romeo.
“Sabi ko nga sa kanya, marami ng sumpa na nawala sa San Miguel. Kahit ako nung time na napunta ako dito, marami rin nagsabi na bad luck daw ako,” said the second overall pick in the 2006 Draft, who only won his first championship during the 2011 Governors’ Cup.
“Kaya masaya ako para kay Terrence bilang ka-FEU ko rin siya.”
Romeo also relishes the bond he has formed with the former MVP. And he hopes that this lasts for a long time.
“Siya yung nagdala sa akin dun. Thank you talaga kay Kuya Arwind. The best talaga siya, the best na roommate, the best pa sa lahat!”
