Arwind sings, writes own songs

ARWIND Santos, the 2012 PBA MVP, surprised everyone when he recently released his single and original composition entitled “Bagyo.”

Until “Bagyo,” hardly anybody from the PBA community knew that the 6-foot-4 San Miguel Beer forward had a talent for singing, much less composing songs.

“It is my very first release, but certainly not my last,” Arwind told the Inquirer. “I have composed many songs, but only the lyrics. Now all I have to do is find the melody for them,” Arwind said.

“Bagyo” is about the typhoons that wreak havoc on the environment, and which he personally experienced as a young boy in his home town in San Fernando, Pampanga.

“Raging storms would engulf our house in flood, ripping off the roof, it was traumatic to a young boy,” Arwind recounted in his song.

“But the floods would always eventually subside, the rains would stop and the sun will again shine brilliantly. It’s like the story of my life,” he added.

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According to Arwind, “Bagyo” is the expression and fulfillment of the artist in him.

His primary motivation in coming up with this single, he said, was to let people know that he has this other talent, apart from basketball.

“That’s why I’m so delighted, tickled pink in fact, when I hear my teammates, the other players and the fans humming the song or singing parts of it. It’s an indication that my creation is catching on,” the cager said.

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If he had his way, Ginebra governor Alfrancis Chua said he would gather everyone with a strong passion for basketball and an in-depth technical knowledge on the sport and get them involved in the selection of the next Gilas Pilipinas team—its  coaching    staff   and  players.

“That’s what I would do, I’d bring all the PBA coaches together in one session, the amateur coaches from the D-League, the UAAP, the NCAA and the associations from the provinces in another, and hear what they have to say.

“I’m sure everyone has something to say. I would pick their brains, and if I get even only one or two brilliant suggestions from these consultations, I’ll be happy,” Chua said.

The people he will consult will also include the PBA governors, the pro and amateur players, the latter being more familiar with the zone defense and the Fiba rules, and last but not least, the SBP.

“No one entity has a monopoly of all the good ideas, you know. The winnowing process may be a bit long and laborious, but I think the country will have a better chance for success,” said the long-haired coach, who said he is happy with what he is doing right now, and the thought of going back to coaching has never entered his mind.

But what if he is asked to coach the national team, would he say no?

“That’s a different story altogether. How can anybody turn his back on his country, on his kababayans. Iba  yan. If  duty beckons, you have no choice but to set aside everything for flag and country. I cannot turn my back if such an offer comes my way,” Alfrancis said.