In the last three minutes of the second quarter of Game Five, the TNT Katropa suddenly waxed hot from three-point distance, nailing five booming treys in that stretch to erect a 61-46 lead over the San Miguel Beermen at the half.
“Yung defense namin kasi nagkagulo. Hindi namin alam kung san pupunta,” lamented SMB forward Arwind Santos, regarding that particular span. “Nagkaroon kami ng malaking problema sa depensa namin.
“Mabuti naman nakuha namin kaagad nung third quarter yung solusyon.”
And with the solution the Beermen found, Santos was one of its main components. The 36-year-old fired 14 points just in the third canto, helping the Beermen wipe out the huge deficit and turn things in their favor.
As the buzzer sounded, San Miguel reigned supreme, 111-102, to take a 3-2 lead in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
“Step up lang,” said Santos, who finished with a series-high 27 markers on 69 percent shooting alongside eight rebounds, of his third quarter outburst that basically saved the Beermen.
“So presence of mind na lang yung nangyari.”
This is not the first time in the series that Santos has served as the Beermen’s spark plug whenever they are in trouble. Back in Game 2, when SMB were down 0-17, it was Santos who saved them with 11 markers in the opening frame alone.
And for the 11-year veteran, his sudden scoring explosions simply stem from his desire to help the Beermen.
“Pagka mga ganung situwasyon, hindi ko sinasabi na gusto ko yung nangyayari. Ibig sabihin lang na sa ‘pag ganung situwasyon, pipilitin ko mag-ambag talaga,” shared the 2013 league’s Most Valuable Player.
“Kahit papaano, naging maganda yung contribution ko and nahabol namin.”
Santos is now on the cusp of ending his 11-year thirst for a Commissioner’s Cup crown, and all the San Miguel Beermen have to do is win Game Six this Sunday, July 1, to make it a reality. However, Santos does not want to be too confident about it.
“Hindi ka talaga puwede maging kumpiyansa na makukuha mo agad yung panalo against sa kanila, kasi sobrang nagpe-prepare rin sila. Meron din talaga silang piyesa para talunin kami,” stressed the five-time champion.
“Kailangan lang talaga na ma-start namin ng maganda. Hindi dapat nangyayari yung malalayuan kami. hangga’t maaari, kami yung makalayo.”
