Arwind Santos has a hot take: Barangay Ginebra San Miguel will be the San Miguel Beermen’s foes in the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The 2013 league MVP said so on Sunday night, after the Beermen successfully booked a return trip to the mid-season joust’s title match by finishing the Alaska Aces, 104-99, in Game Four of the semifinals at SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“Tingin ko. Tingin ko sila na, ano, kaya sila na siguro ang paghahandaan namin,” said Santos.
Santos’ claim, perhaps, stems from the fact that the Gin Kings have a 2-1 lead over the Elasto Painters in their best-of-five semis series, and has a chance to close it out on Monday, July 23, 7:00 PM also at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“‘Di namin nakikita na tatalunin sila ng Rain or Shine eh,” said Santos.
“Ewan ko lang, pero bilog ang bola, ‘di natin masasabi, pero tingin ko, Ginebra.”
But regardless of which opponent will they battle as they defend their throne, this conference has turned out well for the Beermen, considering that they had an uncharacteristic start in the tilt as they lost their first three games.
And for Santos, that kind of start had only helped the Beermen become better.
“Siguro maganda rin itong dumadaan din ang San Miguel sa mga ganitong situwasyon eh. Hindi ‘yung puro lagi kaming andoon sa top, kasi siyempre lahat naman ng teams, pinaghahandaan kami,” said the 37-year-old.
“Pero ang maganda dito, kahit andoon kami sa baba, kalagitnaan ng standing, kaya naming bumalik sa top, ‘yun ang importante. ‘Yun ang championship attitude talaga,” he added. “It doesn’t matter kung anong position ka.
“Basta ang importante, gusto natin ‘yun. Pagka ginusto namin, nakukuha namin, ‘yun ang maganda sa team namin.”
