Arwind Santos. PBA Images/Nuki Sabio
San Miguel Beer forward Arwind Santos felt he didn’t deserve to get thrown out for repeatedly swinging his elbows after a rebound play in the fourth quarter of the Beermen’s win over the Star Hotshots Sunday night.
Santos got ejected for picking up his second technical foul with still 9:34 to go for what he said was an attempt to draw the ire of Hotshots import Marqus Blakely whom he beat for the rebound.
“Para sa akin hindi ako masaya doon sa tawag na yun. Dapat warning muna pwede pa. Parang hindi naman bago sa PBA or sa ibang liga NC o UAAP na merong nangaasar ng konti. Buti sana kung tinamaan. Naisip ko nga kanina na sana tinamaan ko na lang para at least totoo pa yun lang yung punto ko.”
(For me, I wasn’t happy with that call. They should’ve just given me a warning. Taunting is not new in the PBA or even in other leagues like NCAA or UAAP. It wasn’t like he got hit. I should’ve just hit him for real to prove my point.)
The 2013 PBA MVP Santos cleared he had no “intentions” of hurting Blakely even though he kept swaying his elbows while cradling the ball.
“Ang intention ko kasi ang basketbol nandoon pa din yung maglaro ka ng seryoso pero hindi masama na lagyan mo ng konting kakulitan or konting pangasar,” Santos, who had 12 points before leaving the court, told reporters.
(In basketball, you can take it seriously but I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a little teasing or taunting. That was my intention.)
“Pangasar yung ginawa ko, konting kulitan. Hindi ko ine-expect na mabibigyan ng technical yon kasi wala sa intensyon ko yung tamaan talaga. Alam ko eh. Kontrolado ko yung sarili ko kung tatamaan ko talaga,” he added.
(I was just taunting him. I wasn’t expecting to be given a technical because I really wasn’t planning on hitting him. I know. I can control myself.)
But Santos succeeded because not only did he get under Blakely’s skin but also that of Star head coach Tim Cone, who confronted him near the Hotshots’ bench.
“Sabi niya (Cone) ‘that’s [expletive],” Santos said of what Cone was saying towards him. “Ayoko na lang sagutin.”
(He said, ‘that’s [expletive]. I didn’t want to answer back anymore.)
Though he would have wanted to answer back at Cone, Santos opted not to. He added that he still respects the two-time Grand Slam champion coach.
“Parang ang masasabi ko lang doon parang ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng [expletive] na ganoon sa tagal mo na sa PBA. Ayon yung gusto ko sabihin eh. Pero quiet na lang ako. Nandoon pa din yung respeto ko kaya hindi ko ginawa.”
(Was it the first time you saw something like that, considering how long you’ve been in the PBA? That’s what what I wanted to say. But I just kept quiet. My respect for him is still there that’s why I didn’t answer back.)