Arwind Santos’ ‘Death Five’ teammates couldn’t feel happier to witness him receive an honor he truly deserves on Wednesday.
The 2012 PBA Most Valuable Player will have his jersey no. 29 retired by San Miguel during their Season 48 Philippine Cup game against Blackwater at the Philsports Arena in Pasig – a ceremony befitting for a sure-fire Hall of Famer.
It also signifies his long-awaited return to the league’s winningest franchise after a trade to NorthPort in a shocking deal back in 2021.
“Masaya kami para kay Arwind sa Wednesday,” relayed seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo moments after the Beermen’s 120-103 win over NLEX to clinch the top seed of the conference Sunday.
“Excited kami para sa kanya.”
Excitement is building around the upcoming jersey retirement taking place at ‘ULTRA’ as Santos will be setting foot on a PBA court for the first time since the 2023 Governors’ Cup, when he was still with the Batang Pier.
Not a few wondered if the three-time PBA Press Corps Defensive Player of the Year could still return to the league where he won nine championships, especially when he took a detour to the MPBL through Pampanga.
But as fate would have it, the FEU product is set for a comeback, which he himself had wished to happen to get that closure of sorts.
Wednesday will also be a reunion with the celebrated five that brought a total of eight championships from 2014-19 – including an unprecedented Philippine Cup ‘five-peat’ – to San Miguel Corporation’s flagship franchise.
One of those who can’t wait for the ceremonies is San Miguel’s resident sniper, Marcio Lassiter, who acknowledges how big Santos had been for SMB.
“Definitely deserving of Arwind. I’m proud of him. I’m happy for him,” he said. “He gave a lot to this team, this organization.
“It’s gonna be a great day to see him here on Wednesday to honor his jersey and I couldn’t be happier for him.”
