Arwind Santos was the game-changer yet again for the San Miguel Beermen on Wednesday evening.
The Beermen had fallen behind the NorthPort Batang Pier by four with 1:51 left to play in their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup do-or-die quarterfinal clash. Santos then immediately scored five straight, including a triple from the right-wing.
Yes, the same spot from which he knocked down big shots in the past that led to his team winning championships.
The Beermen would eventually win, 90-88, to overcome the Batang Pier’s twice-to-beat advantage and march to the semifinals. And Santos couldn’t help but reflect that the right-wing of the arc seems a lucky spot for him.
“Naalala ko yung spot na yun. Marami akong naalalang ‘Kamay ng Diyos’ na itinira ko sa spot na yun na naalala ko,” said the eight-time PBA champion.
“Sobrang thank you na thank you ako, naipanalo kami ng spot na yun.”
With that shot, the Beermen completed the upset of the second-seeded Batang Pier. Santos is ecstatic, of course, since San Miguel had struggled all throughout the mid-season joust’s eliminations.
“Masarap yung feeling maging number seven spot dahil minsan talaga ‘di mo masabi na yun yung parang lesson na nasa baba ka, nasa taas… Pagka ginusto mo, pinangarap mo, minsan makukuha mo yun eh,” the 13-year pro said.
The Beermen will now wait for the winner between Rain or Shine and Blackwater for their foes in the best-of-five semifinals, which starts later this week. The winner will be determined this Thursday, July 25.
Santos has no preference for their opponent, since they are aware that both teams are difficult to face. But the 38-year-old forward believes that the Beermen are now peaking at the right time.
“Kahit sino sa kanilang dalawa,” expressed the cager from Pampanga. “Kailangan pa rin naming paghandaan pero nakakatuwa naman.
“Doon sa kabilang side, medyo mas malakas. Ginebra at saka Talk N Text yun, ‘di ba?
“Blackwater or Rain or Shine. Hindi ko sinasabi na kayang-kaya namin pero ang maganda rito, yung confidence ng San Miguel ngayon, tumataas na yung conditioning ng team namin, nakukuha na namin,” Santos furthered. “Pagka ganoon ang nangyari, magiging maganda ang flow namin hanggang sa Finals.”
