Arwind Santos unfazed by 2-1 finals deficit: ‘That’s nothing’

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Being down 2-1 in a best-of-seven finals series is nothing to San Miguel Beer forward Arwind Santos.

Santos remained unfazed when he was reminded about the current standing of the Beermen’s title duel against the Magnolia Hotshots after Sunday night’s Game 3.

“Wala yan. Hindi kami kinakabahan sa ganyan. Ita-tie lang namin yan, sisiguraduhin namin na mananalo kami ng Game 4 tapos best-of-three ang usapan,” Santos told reporters after an 86-82 loss to the Hotshots at Araneta Coliseum.

(That’s nothing. We don’t get nervous being down 2-1. We’re just going to tie it up. We’re going to make sure that we’ll win Game 4 and it’s just going to be a best-of-three.)

Santos led San Miguel Beer with 19 points on 8-of-22 shooting from the field and 12 rebounds.

The Beermen shot just 33 percent from the field and were out-rebounded, 71-46.

The 37-year-old Santos praised Magnolia’s defense but added he isn’t convinced that the Hotshots can stop the Beermen’s high-powered offense for the entire series.

“Hindi ako naniniwala na itong buong series na ito, kaya nila kaming i-stop-in. Kailangan lang din namin gumawa ng paraan, kailangan lang namin maghanda kung ano yung mga ginagawa gawa nila, mga game plan nila,” he said. “Like sa offensive rebound, ang dami nilang nakuha kaysa sa amin. Kailangan naming mag-adjust doon para makasabay kami.”

(I don’t believe that they can stop us for the whole series. We just need to find ways and be prepared with whatever they’re trying to do against us. They’ve been getting a lot of offensive rebounds and we need to make adjustments to limit that.)

Game 4 is on Friday night with Santos and the Beermen hoping to replicate their 108-101 win in Game 2 where they led by as much as 21 points.