From Petronovela to Beeracle to History
Once the final buzzer had sounded and the confetti dropped from the rafters of the historic SMART-Araneta Coliseum Sunday evening, Arwind Santos could not help but look at his teammates and be proud — proud of what they had just accomplished and proud of how far they’ve come.
Compared to their last two Philippine Cup campaigns, their journey to their third All-Filipino crown was simply dominant. And it was the sweetest for team skipper and formerly league MVP Arwind Santos.
“Ito na yung tamis na pagka umihi ka lalanggamin na e.
“Mas matamis siyempre. Sobrang nagpapasalamat talaga ako kasi iilan lang naman yung pwedeng makakuha at makatikim ng ganitong katamis na tagumpay diba,” the now-five time PBA champion shared.
Prior to this dominant run the San Miguel Beermen are in, only a few expected this team to be in the position they are in now. Alex Cabagnot and Santos himself were both alpha males. Marcio Lassiter, a flat out shooter, needed the ball all the time while Chris Ross was seen as a non-threat on offense. Moreover, June Mar Fajardo was starting to takeover Santos’ territory.
But when the losing became too much, they just decided to just grow up in a snap.
“Siguro yung situwasyon kasi na yun… Tayo naman dumaan tayo sa rookie tapos na ako doon e, sa pagiging rookie,” the 11-year league veteran reflected.
“Ngayon, nandito na kami, meron na kaming June Mar. Tapos nandiyan pa sila Chris Ross. Kumbaga hindi ka na dapat makipag-agawan. Hindi mo lang dapat itaas sila, [dapat] suportahan mo rin sila para mas lalo sila umangat. Na alam mo naman kapag umangat sila, ginawa mo yung part mo na hininto mo yung selos and makipagawan sa kanila.”
This mindset created some of the most beautiful basketball the league has seen. In their five game series against Ginebra, the Beermen assisted on 57.5 percent of their field goals. And their ball movement disrupted whatever the league’s most stingiest team were planning to execute.
For the 35-year-old, this system all started with them giving each other their trust and full confidence.
“Sobrang willing mag-sacrifice. Yung iba kahit walang score dumedepensa lang.
“Ganoon din yung mga rookies namin na nakakatulong sa amin kapag may ensayo kami. Sobrang naniniwala sila sa first group. Kami naniniwala rin kami sa second group namin. Malaking bagay yun pagka nagtitiwala kayo sa isa’t isa. Nagugulat ka na lang ang ganda ng binubunga ng team mo,” the Pampangueno furthered.
And this selflessness they exude can be seen when Fajardo and Ross were adjudged Best Player of the Conference and Finals MVP respectively. The joy in their faces when those two were called to the podium were both pure and genuine.
“Walang kasama-sama [ng loob],” Santos answered when he was asked if he felt any bitterness about not being awarded even if posted numbers of 14.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks in 36.8 minutes in the Finals.
“Yung mga ganiyan na mga award ipagpapasalamat mo kapag binigay sayo ng Diyos. Pero kahit hindi ka bigyan magpasalamat ka pa rin.”
But even with the historic feat they achieved, Santos remains thirsty for more. And he hopes the Beermen remain as thirsty as him or even more.
“Ginawa namin yung lahat ng parang kung saan kami mahina, hindi kami humihinto mag-improve at mag-improve,” he closed.
“Kaya sana itong nakuha namin, hindi lumaki yung ulo ng bawat isa. Sana manatili pa rin kaming uhaw sa championship.”
