Santos on sweeping Aces: Beermen ‘more mature’ in Finals rematch

Arwind Santos said San Miguel Beer’s maturity helped in sweeping Alaska in their Finals rematch. The Beermen needed a Game 7 to survive the Aces in the Philippine Cup Finals two conferences ago. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.NET

When the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces met in the PBA Philippine Cup Finals two conferences ago, seven games were needed.

Fast forward to the Governors’ Cup, the Beermen only needed four games to put away the Aces.

For Arwind Santos, it’s the maturity of San Miguel Beer that played a big difference in the Finals rematch.

“We were more mature now and we really know what we need to do and we don’t hesitate,” Santos said in Filipino Friday night at Smart Araneta Coliseum after the Beermen became just the fifth team complete a four-game sweep in the championship.

Santos, who turns 34 on Sunday, played more of the starring role for SMB in the all-Filipino conference where he was named Finals MVP. But with the Beermen offense clicking from Marcio Lassiter, Alex Cabagnot to import Arizona Reid and big man June Mar Fajardo, he gladly accepted a new niche in the Governors’ Cup Finals – taking a backseat and doing the small things that his team needs like rebounding and providing help on the defensive end.

In the title-clinching Game 4, Santos scored only six points but he hauled down 12 rebounds.

Santos also gave Beermen governor Robert Non for the team’s success this season.

“The trust the management gives us we have to repay that by giving it our best every game,” Santos said. “Boss Robert is a busy man but he always meets with us every after game, and those kinds of gestures helps the team a lot.”