Arwind Santos is aware that overconfidence is a tough opponent to beat, especially now that the San Miguel Beermen have seized the advantage in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
The Beermen – after being down 0-1 in the best-of-seven series – convincingly won their second straight match on Wednesday night, 132-94, for a 2-1 lead over the Barangay Ginebra San Migiel.
“Isa ‘yun sa mahirap na kalaban,” admitted the seven-time champion.
But as much as he knows how problematic it can be, he’s also confident that it is a hump they can overcome, should overconfidence overtake the minds of the defending champions.
“Ang maganda rito, minsan puputok si Alex [Cabagnot], si Chris Ross, si Rey [Balkman] nandyan, si June Mar [Fajardo] andyan din. Nagse-step up din si Christian [Standhardinger].
“Nandiyan pa ako,” said Santos, who is averaging 11.0 points and 3.6 rebounds so far in the series.
“Siguro yung overconfidence pumasok man sa isang player o dalawa, not bad kasi may iba pa na pwedeng tumulong at mag-refill ng mga pagkukulang ng mga nawawala sa game,” he added.
Wednesday’s win matched the biggest winning margin in PBA Finals history, which was the 99-61 victory of the Alaska Aces over the Beermen back in Game Six of the 1998 All-Filipino Cup.
But for Santos, it doesn’t guarantee that the Beermen will be able to replicate their dominant form come Game Four.
“Hindi ibig sabihin noon na tinambakan namin sila ng Game Three na kayang-kaya na namin sila sa Game Four. So kailangan pa rin namin silang paghandaan,” shared the 2013 PBA Most Valuable Player.
“At kailangan pa rin naming mag-stay at dagdagan yung ginagawa namin.”
