The 6-foot-4 Santos shone the brightest among the locals in the week that was, enabling the Boosters to notch back-to-back wins that helped propel them to the finals of the season-ending conference and perhaps redemption against Philippine Cup tormentor Talk N Text.
“Mahihirapan kaming marating ang kinalalagyan namin ngayon kung hindi sa napakalaking tulong ni Arwind,” said Petron coach Ato Agustin of the former shooting forward transplanted to the power forward slot due to key absences in the team.
“Masaya talaga ako para sa kanya dahil deserving talaga siya for the citation,” added Agustin.
Santos sure did deliver just when his team needed it most.
In victories over B-MEG and Talk N Text, the Angeles City native posted averages of 20.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 1.5 blocked shots, an assist and a steal.
Those numbers were even more impressive than when he normed 14.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, 3.5 blocks and a steal in a similar two-game winning stretch that made him co-recipient, along with Tropang Texter guard Jayson Castro, of the honor on June 13-19.
All in all, Santos has been averaging 16.7 points, 14.5 rebounds, 11.1 assists, as many steals and 1.7 blocked shots going to the best-of-seven championship series.
He leads the import-spiced tournament in swatted shots, is tops among locals in rebounding and double-doubles (10) and fourth among locals in points production, making him one of the top prospects for the Best Player of the Conference award.
Santos just wants to focus on helping his team win the title over the same Talk N Text crew that beat them in six games during the Philippine Cup crown chase.
It should take a lot of doing since the Boosters are without the injured Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Jay Washington, Lordy Tugade and Joseph Yeo.
But Santos remains unfazed. “Mas gusto naming makabawi,” he said. “Sa ngayon iyon lang talaga ang focus namin.”(pr)
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