Arwin Santos has the extra motivation of playing in his hometown of Pampanga as the PBA resumes its pandemic-interrupted season inside a semi-bubble at the Clark Freeport Zone.
“Oo naman, kasi dito ako sumibol,” said the Lubao native during the PBA media availability on Sunday, hours before the league reopens Season 45 at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center.
Santos’ humble beginnings are well-documented in his birthplace, including the time he was a pedicab driver so he could help his father augment the family income.
Despite what he has become, though, the 2013 PBA Most Valuable Player has never forgotten his roots. So to be able to play for his fellow Cabalens now excites him.
“At siyempre sa mga Cabalen ko, dito kasi ako nag-pedicab nung mga time na ‘yun. So nakakatuwa na lahat ng mga pedicab driver manonood sila sa TV dito mismo sa Pampanga,” Santos said.
The Far Eastern University all-time great feels delighted since he believes that Pampanga Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda is proud that the league chose the province to be the site of the bubble.
Pineda himself encouraged Asia’s pioneering pro league to resume its season in Clark, saying that it is the ideal location.
“Alam kong proud na proud siya dahil nandiyan ‘yung suporta niya para mag-offer ng ganito kalaking facility para sa ating lahat,” said the 39-year-old Santos, who’s among the many Kapampangan stars who consider Pineda as a father.
Santos and the league-leading San Miguel Beermen (1-0) will begin their quest of extending their Philippine Cup dominion to six this Tuesday against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters.
All eyes are on the league’s winningest team with 27 championships, to see how it can fare without reigning six-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo. Santos, though, thinks they will do just fine.
This compressed conference is now a free-for-all given Fajardo’s absence. Santos himself acknowledges this, believing as well that every team is capable of dethroning SMB.
So for the eight-time PBA champion, he hopes that San Miguel will be able to address some of their habits if they really want to keep their reign going.
“Halos lahat kasi ng team deserving naman kaming talunin. Depende lang talaga sa ipapakita namin inside the game. Ang San Miguel kasi may tendency minsan na pagka mahina ang kalaban, nagre-relax. Minsan sakit talaga namin ‘yun. Sana maiwasan namin ‘yung mga ganung attitude.”
