Arwind Santos joins Pampanga Giant Lanterns ahead of MPBL playoffs

Arwind Santos suiting up for Pampanga Giant Lanterns.

Arwind Santos has joined the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in time for the start of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) playoffs, the team announced on social media Friday.

The Giant Lanterns said the 2013 PBA Most Valuable Player will be available when they host the Marikina Shoemasters in the opener of their best-of-three first round series at Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center later in the day.

Santos will play for his godfather, Pampanga governor Dennis Pineda, who is acting as the Giant Lanterns’ coach.

His move came after the 42-year-old’s contract with the NorthPort Batang Pier expired last month. Santos last saw action for the big league side in the PBA On Tour exhibition series.

It is the second time that a prominent PBA player jumped ship to the regional league, joining Santos’ Pampanga teammate Encho Serrano.

Serrano joined the Giant Lanterns last June after completing his PBA rookie campaign with Phoenix while also declining an offer of a two-year extension.

Both Santos and Serrano were initially listed by Pampanga in its 25-player roster before the MPBL tipped off in the summer despite still having contracts with their then-PBA teams.

Behind Serrano and Justine Baltazar, Pampanga won 26 of 28 regular season games to enter the playoffs as the top seed of the Northern Division.