For the San Miguel Beermen, going against the TNT KaTropa is picking your poison.
Arwind Santos confessed as much after his Beermen got walloped by their long-time rivals, 96-109, in the series opener of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, Sunday.
Terrence Jones was impressive yet again with 41 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists but the locals were just as potent. Five Texters in total finished in double figures in the win.
For Santos, that’s where the problem lies. He and SMB are left to wonder who they will stop: the former NBA cager – who’s a heavy favorite to win Best Import honors – or the locals around him.
“Kung papipiliin ka, gusto mo bang umiskor si Terrence Jones ng more than fifty points? Or at the same time, off ang mga locals nila? Dapat ganoon,” said the former league MVP after the match.
“Kasi ang ano neto, maganda na ‘yung laro ni Jones, maganda pa ‘yung local. Kailangan hindi dapat ganoon ang mangyari. Kung mao-off namin ‘yung import, okay lang maganda ‘yung local,” he continued.
“Kung mao-off namin ‘yung local, dapat ‘yung import hindi na. Mamili kami sa side na ‘yun.”
Santos himself had chances to defend Jones, and he gave the latter a taste of physicality early through a hard foul. For the 38-year-old, though, he simply wanted to slow Jones down.
“Magaling talaga eh. Siyempre ganoon talaga, pagka minsan, pagka sobrang galing, minsan gusto mo talagang pigilan. Minsan, pagka gusto mong pigilan, minsan gusto mong tirahin na.”
Game Two will be on Wednesday. And Santos vowed that they will do whatever it takes to defend Jones.
“Tingnan natin ng Game Two. Baka umabot sa point na talagang minsan, tayo, ayaw nating napapahiya minsan dahil siyempre, championship na ‘to. Ayaw din naming matalo basta-basta,” the decorated forward shared.
“Magkakaroon ulit ng chance na kung sino matatapat namin sa kanya, talagang gagawin namin lahat para ma-stop siya, kahit papaano.”
