Arwind Santos, SMB raring to pull off another title series comeback

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Coming back from a series deficit is nothing new to San Miguel Beer.

The Beermen became the first team in PBA history when they climbed back from a 0-3 hole to clinch the Philippine Cup crown in 2016 in what became known as the “Beeracle.”

This time, though, the Beermen are once again about to channel that indomitable fighting spirit as they try to win one more game against Magnolia and win their fifth straight Philippine Cup.

The Beermen and the Hotshots were locked in a seesaw battle in the first six games of the finals with Magnolia taking Game 1, 99-94, that started off the win-lose trend. SMB tied the series at 3-3 after a 98-86 Game 6 victory on Sunday night.

“We know that we cannot lose hope because we even came back from 0-3 deficit back then,” said San Miguel forward Arwind Santos in Filipino at Araneta Coliseum. “This time we just have to win two straight, and we already got one, so we can get that five-peat we’ve always wanted.”

The Beermen faced 3-2 series deficit in Game 5 after Mark Barroca beat the buzzer to give Magnolia an 88-86 win that put a massive scare to their title-retention bid.

“Getting that five-peat isn’t impossible as long as we’re together. We’ll lose together and we’ll win together. We won’t waste our chance.”

Santos, who went scoreless the first three quarters before finishing with eight points that went with seven rebounds, and two blocks, added that he felt a tinge of nervousness when the moment the Hotshots moved on the cusp of the championship.

Back in Game 4, when San Miguel won 114-98, Santos said that they should be the ones to take the series lead but that all went down the drain thanks to Barroca’s clutch shot leaving the Beermen to claw back and force a Game 7.

Santos, who’s won seven titles, compared the back-and-forth series to a literal seesaw saying the result of Game 6 gave put the pendulum in a perfect balance.

“It’s like we’re playing in a seesaw, first Magnolia’s at the top then, San Miguel, but now we’re balanced,” said Santos. “I hope that if the balloons drop, it will be because we won.”

“This would be one of the sweetest championships for us, apart from the Beeracle.”