ARWIND Santos is letting his actions do the talking this time as San Miguel Beer moved on the verge of capturing a third straight all-Filipino championship.
After engaging Kevin Ferrer in a word war in Game Three, the SMB star and the Ginebra rookie were again involved in one play where Santos unintentionally hit Ferrer on the head with the ball in the hope of saving it from going out of bounds.
Ferrer gained possession of the leather, but Santos blocked his short stab.
Santos and the Beermen again had the last laugh as they took Game Four, 94-85, and a 3-1 series lead, but he dialed back on what he wanted to say to Ferrer this time.
“Nginitian ko na lang,” the former league MVP said. “Basta ako, no comment ako. Basta ako, thank you kay God at sa fans ng San Miguel.”
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And Santos looks to keep his lips sealed as he kept his focus on the unenviable task of closing out the Gin Kings starting in Game Five on Sunday night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“Kung makikita mo sa mga mukha namin, seryoso kami kasi alam naming hindi pa rin ganun kadaling kunin yung isang panalo na yon,” Santos said.
The authors of the greatest comeback in league history, the Beermen are eager to avoid being on the wrong end of a monumental reversal this time – especially against the never-say-die Gin Kings.
“Yun yung sinasabi nilang boomerang, ‘di ba? Wag sanang bumalik sayo yung ginawa mo,” Santos said. “Kaya iniingatan namin na hindi mangyari yon.”
Chris Ross, who has delivered on both ends for SMB in the series, echoed his teammate’s sentiments.
“We got to come out like we’re the ones down, because we know that they’re going to fight, and they’re going to give it their all,” Ross said.