With Fajardo playing sparingly, Santos delivers for ‘complete’ SMB team
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San Miguel on Friday knew the reality that prized three-time MVP June Mar Fajardo wouldn’t be able to log in heavy minutes against Globalport.
And even though Fajardo played just seven minutes and 30 seconds, all in the first half, one-time MVP Arwind Santos was there to will the Beermen to a 115-112 win over the Batang Pier for their third win in the 2017 PBA Governors’ Cup.
“Our performance out there, even though we didn’t have June Mar, just shows that this San Miguel team is a complete team,” said Santos in Filipino at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Santos finished with 30 points, eight rebounds, and five blocks in the victory as he reverted back to his natural power forward spot.
READ: San Miguel overcomes GlobalPort behind Santos’ heroics
The 2013 MVP usually gets moved to the three spot during import conferences to accommodate the reinforcements that play power forward while Fajardo remains at center.
Against Globalport, though, Santos was again playing at his natural position while import Wendell McKines played at the five spot.
This allowed San Miguel’s offense to spread out with Santos lurking in the perimeter and that allowed him to knock down a career-high seven three-pointers.
“It’s just great that you can contribute in so many ways,” said Santos in Filipino. “Who wouldn’t be happy if they know they can help their team win in whatever way they can?”
