Santos not backing down, ready for challenge against rookie Belo
Will there be a passing of the torch when rising star Mac Belo and veteran Santos face off for the first time?
Santos doubts it.
“”Nandoon pa rin yung challenge na hindi ka magpapadaig kahit papaano. Magkakasubukan pa rin kami,” he said.
The duel between San Miguel and Blackwater at Mall of Asia Arena will be the first time Santos and super rookie Belo, both former cornerstones of Far Eastern University, will cross paths in their professional careers.
Santos won three Most Valuable Player plums during his time with the Tamaraws while also leading them to three crowns, while Belo captained the squad to the UAAP Season 78 title in 2015, where he was named as the Finals MVP, to end the school’s decade-long drought.
But Santos is still not ready to pass the baton to the upstart in the PBA
“Nung time ko sa FEU ako, masasabi ko na hindi niya ako nahigitan. Pero dito sa PBA, maganda rin kasi na mayroon kang vision sa sarili mo kung sino ang gusto mong daigin para mag-improve ka. Magugulat ka na lang na nadadaig mo naman pala,” he said. “Ok naman ako dun kung madadaig mo ako. Pero pag nagkatapat kami, makakalimutan muna namin kung saan kaming school nanggaling parehas.”
Meanwhile, Belo is just looking forward to learning from the 2012 PBA MVP.
“Sa akin, nae-excite ako kasi grabe yung respeto na binibigay ko kay kuya Arwind. Sobrang taas ng respeto ko sa kanya. Excited ako na makatapat sya and hopefully, marami akong matutunan sa kanya,” he said. “Hinahangaan ko sya kasi winner talaga sya.”
Santos knows the potential of Belo and even went on to say that the Midsayap, North Cotabato native is bound for bigger things.
“Nakikita ko na isa siya sa mga inaasahan sa team nya,” he said. “Malaki yung chance niya makuha ang Rookie of the Year.”
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get access to The Philippine Daily Inquirer & other 70+ titles, share up to 5 gadgets, listen to the news, download as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Call 896 6000.
