San Miguel Beer's Arwind Santos shoots over TNT's RR Pogoy in Game 5 of the Commissioner's Cup Finals, Friday night.
MANILA, Philippines – Maybe it was simply the Finals experience kicking in.
It wasn't the league's three-time Most Valuable Player nor was it the Best Import who bailed San Miguel Beer out on Friday night. Heck, it wasn't even the Best Player of the Conference.
When San Miguel Beer was trailing by 15 points at the midway Game Five of the Commissioner's Cup Finals, it was the winner of multiple PBA titles who towed his team out of a rut.
Arwind Santos emptied 14 of his 27 points in the third period to help the Beermen overcome KaTropa and wrest control of the series.
"Step up lang," Santos humbly said when asked about what gave him a boost in the decisive quarter. Nalamangan na naman kami ng 15 nung matapos 'yung second quarter. Nangyari na rin yun noon--17-0.
"Pagka mga ganoong sitwasyon ... pipilitin ko mag-ambag talga," he continued. "Kahit papano, naging maganda 'yung contribution ko and nahabol naman namin."
Santos, who has been inconsistent in the series, had eight rebounds and five blocks to go with his sweet shooting. He was just a point behind the team's top scorer Alex Cabagnot, who had 28.
But if there's really someone who aptly saves the Beermen's night, it was Santos, as he had been in high-pressure situations like this. He has been a frequent visitor to the league's summit that he has won five titles.
Santos is currently the third most decorated Beerman. He is behind Ronald Tubid (six titles) and Yancy de Ocampo (eight titles).
"'Yung defense namin, kasi nagkagulo," Santos recalled. "Hindi namin alam kung san pupunta. Mabuti naman nakuha namin kaagad sa third quarter 'yung solusyon."
But even after moving one step closer to the championship, the lanky forward remains cautious.
"Depende nalang [ang championship] sa kung papano namin ipapakita (through) body language--'yung samahan namin sa loob at tiwala namin sa isa't-isa kung paano namin lalaurin 'to," Santos closed.
Game Six of the best-of-seven series is on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
San Miguel Beer's Arwind Santos shoots over TNT's RR Pogoy in Game 5 of the Commissioner's Cup Finals, Friday night.
MANILA, Philippines – Maybe it was simply the Finals experience kicking in.
It wasn't the league's three-time Most Valuable Player nor was it the Best Import who bailed San Miguel Beer out on Friday night. Heck, it wasn't even the Best Player of the Conference.
When San Miguel Beer was trailing by 15 points at the midway Game Five of the Commissioner's Cup Finals, it was the winner of multiple PBA titles who towed his team out of a rut.
Arwind Santos emptied 14 of his 27 points in the third period to help the Beermen overcome KaTropa and wrest control of the series.
"Step up lang," Santos humbly said when asked about what gave him a boost in the decisive quarter. Nalamangan na naman kami ng 15 nung matapos 'yung second quarter. Nangyari na rin yun noon--17-0.
"Pagka mga ganoong sitwasyon ... pipilitin ko mag-ambag talga," he continued. "Kahit papano, naging maganda 'yung contribution ko and nahabol naman namin."
Santos, who has been inconsistent in the series, had eight rebounds and five blocks to go with his sweet shooting. He was just a point behind the team's top scorer Alex Cabagnot, who had 28.
But if there's really someone who aptly saves the Beermen's night, it was Santos, as he had been in high-pressure situations like this. He has been a frequent visitor to the league's summit that he has won five titles.
Santos is currently the third most decorated Beerman. He is behind Ronald Tubid (six titles) and Yancy de Ocampo (eight titles).
"'Yung defense namin, kasi nagkagulo," Santos recalled. "Hindi namin alam kung san pupunta. Mabuti naman nakuha namin kaagad sa third quarter 'yung solusyon."
But even after moving one step closer to the championship, the lanky forward remains cautious.
"Depende nalang [ang championship] sa kung papano namin ipapakita (through) body language--'yung samahan namin sa loob at tiwala namin sa isa't-isa kung paano namin lalaurin 'to," Santos closed.
Game Six of the best-of-seven series is on Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
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