MANILA, Philippines—Arwind Santos is approaching another individual milestone. But don’t blame him for not being overexcited about it.
The reed-thin forward, known for his all-around prowess, has piled up a league-best statistical points average of 36.5909, more than three points clear of his closest pursuer in the race for the Best Player of the Conference award.
Voting plays a role on who will end up the winner, but it’s not like Santos will lag behind in players and media voting.
As hot as he is on the trail of an individual trophy, Santos is nervously prepping himself for an even bigger contest—tonight’s Game 7 pitting his Petron squad against powerhouse Talk ‘N Text.
“The award is important but right now, it’s more important for our team to win so we can make it to the Finals,” said Santos.
Santos has contributed to Petron’s march to the semifinals, his string of double-doubles and his work ethic more than just key factors—they are also barometers that seemingly predetermine the Boosters’ fate.
His performance has solidified his claim to superstar status, so much so that he is among an exclusive list of players with an endorsement portfolio. Santos endorses Sapal Elastic Sealant and Waterproofer.
More importantly, it pushes him as an automatic candidate for the Best Player trophy, one which he won in last season’s Governors’ Cup.
Petron and Talk ‘N Text are tied, 3-3, after the Tropang Texters came back from a 1-3 deficit.
“We’re all rooting for Arwind to win his first Philippine Cup BPC award,” said Magna Prime GM Derrick Tan.
After the quarterfinals, Santos, in 16 games played, averaged 18.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 1.2 assists.