Arwind Santos and the Beermen celebrate the crown. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER,net
After San Miguel completed the mother of all comebacks on Wednesday, winning the 2016 Smart Bro PBA Philippine Cup in a grueling seven-game series, Arwind Santos still could not believe the way the Finals transpired for the Beermen.
“Ito na yung pinakamatamis sa lahat ng bunga na natikman ko mula ng ako’y natuto maglaro ng basketball,” he said, after the huge 96-89 Game 7 conquest. “Sobrang tamis, nakaka-diabetes. Isang tikim lang, diabetes na ‘to.”
Santos broke out of his three-game funk and was instrumental in all four wins, helping Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter, and later on, June Mar Fajardo in the historic comeback trail.
The 2013 PBA MVP also looks at the conquest as a legacy-defining achievement for the whole team.
“Kahit patay na kami, buhay pa rin yung story, yung legacy na nagawa namin,” he said.
However, drawing lessons from last year’s downfall after the Philippine Cup high, Santos warned his fellow Beermen to keep the hunger on as they plunge back into action right away in the upcoming import-laden conference.
“Kailangan pa rin namin pangalagaan ito. Dapat hindi dumating sa point na maging overconfident kami o lahat kaya na namin. Ibinabalik lang dapat namin yung mga blessings kay God at sa mga kasama namin,” he said.
San Miguel was shockingly eliminated in last season’s Commissioner’s Cup, before retooling and making another run at the Governors’ Cup.
“Ang Alaska, malakas rin. Hindi talaga namin in-expect na matatalo namin sila ng apat na sunod,” Santos said. “Wag sana umabot sa point na ikayabang namin ‘to dahil wala kaming karapatan dahil na-bless lang kami.”