AFTER showing there's still some gas left in the tank, former MVP Arwind Santos didn’t deny that he’s still willing to make a possible PBA comeback.
The now 44-year-old forward was straight to the point when asked about him a return to the 50-year-old league which he once dominated, winning a total of nine championships and was hailed as its best player during the 2013 season.
“Oo naman. Open ako,” was his reply about whether he still thinks of playing in the PBA again.
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His recent stint as part of the Rookies/Sophomores squad during the side event of the Season 50 All-Star weekend proved to be a significant one as the two-time Finals MVP and twice Best Player of the Conference managed to hold his own against his younger counterparts from the Juniors side.
‘Spiderman’ almost ended up with a double-double as he finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, and provided the steady presence down the stretch in the Rookies/Sophomores’ 154-150 victory at the Candon City Arena in Ilocos Sur.
Santos was one of two former PBA players who reinforced the Rookies/Sophomores along with fellow MVP Willie Millers. The Juniors' side had Marc Pingris and Ranidel De Ocampo.
And the native of Angeles City could have done more had Rookies/Sophomores coach Dayong Mendoza not recalled him back to the bench entering the final five minutes.
For his work, Santos was actually in serious consideration for the side event’s MVP award, which was later given to sophomore guard Jerom Lastimosa.
Santos doesn’t mind it as he got the best compliment from no less than his younger teammates, including Blackwater rookie Dalph Panopio.
“Sabi nga nila, puwede ka pa, e,” Santos recalled. “But it’s up to you guys.”
But should there be a comeback, Santos doesn’t want one thing to happen.
“Sabi ko sa kanila (teammates), kung maglalaro ako, ayoko yung papalakpak lang sa bench. Gusto ko maglalaro ako,” said the big man out of Far Eastern University. “Hindi ako pupunta (sa game) para mag-cheer lang.”
Santos was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft by Air21 Express, but carved out a legendary career at San Miguel, where he won all his PBA championships from 2011 to 2019 including five straight Philippine Cup titles as part of the team’s so-called ‘Death Five’ with Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, Alex Cabagnot, and nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
He was also a 10-time Mythical First Team, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, an eight-time member of the All-Defensive Team, a 12-time All-Star and two-time All-Star MVP, and part of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players.
His final playing seasons in the league was spent with Northport Batang Pier.
The San Miguel organization later retired his No. 29 jersey.
Santos went on to play for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL where he won a championship in 2023, before suiting up for the Basilan Portmasters last year.
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