Santos not backing down, ready for challenge against rookie Belo

Will there be a passing of the torch when rising star Mac Belo and veteran Santos face off for the first time?

Santos doubts it.

“The challenge is still there, that you won’t back down from anybody. We’ll still test each other out,” he said.

The duel between San Miguel and Blackwater at Mall of Asia Arena will be the first time Santos and super rookie Belo, both former cornerstones of Far Eastern University, will cross paths in their professional careers.

Santos won three Most Valuable Player plums during his time with the Tamaraws while also leading them to three crowns, while Belo captained the squad to the UAAP Season 78 title in 2015, where he was named as the Finals MVP, to end the school’s decade-long drought.

But in the PBA, Santos is still not ready to pass the baton to the upstart

“I can say that he didn’t surpass me during my time in FEU. But here in the PBA, it’s good if he has a vision of who he wants to surpass so he can continue to improve. You’ll be surprised that you already surpassed them. I’m fine if he surpasses me, but when we meet, we’ll set aside what school we came from.”

Meanwhile, Belo is just looking forward to learning from the 2012 PBA MVP.

“I’m excited because I have lots of respect for Arwind. I’m excited to face off against him and hopefully, I can learn much from him. I admire him because he’s a proven winner.”

Santos knows the potential of Belo and even went on to say that the Midsayap, North Cotabato native is bound for bigger things.

“I can see that he’s one of the reliable players in his team. He has a big chance to win the Rookie of the Year.”