PAYBACK WITHIN REACH
Hobbled by foul trouble all game long, Arwind Santos found a way to be effective for San Miguel.
The 2013 PBA MVP torched Talk ‘N Text with 5-of-7 shooting from three-point land to finish with 23 points, taking San Miguel Beer to a 96-95 squeaker and a 3-0 series lead in their best-of-7 semifinal duel.
With five fouls to his name and the game on the line, the Spiderman stood his ground and forced Ranidel de Ocampo to a tough fadeaway from the right baseline, as the latter’s jumper just kissed the rim and bounced away from the hoop, preserving the Beermen victory.
“God is good kasi ilang beses na nangyari sa akin yan,” Santos said. “Foul trouble tapos bigla ka ibabalik, pero matagal bago mo makuha yung magandang laro mo kasi nag-iingat ka sa foul.”
“Pero di ko iniintindi yun eh. Ang nasa akin lang, kahit ganun ang nangyayari, lagi akong handa at finofokus yung sarili ko kasi gusto naming manalo.”
Another win on the 26th will give the Beermen a sweep, exorcising the nightmare left by their meltdown in the 2012 Philippine Cup.
The then-Petron Blaze went on to build a 3-1 series lead, just to surrender the next three games and lose to the Tropang Texters, four games to three.
“Di namin makalimutan yung before na nilaglag nila kami. Maraming lessons na dapat matutunan namin kaya sana, di na maulit yun,” Santos said. (RL)
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