SAN Miguel retiring the jersey number of Arwind Santos is the team’s way of showing gratitude for what the former PBA MVP has done for the history of the franchise.
Team manager Gee Abanilla said the jersey retirement ceremony is the ultimate reward the Beermen can give to the player who brought a total of nine championships to the team in his more than a decade with the team from 2009 to 2021.
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Santos wore No. 29 as a Beerman which San Miguel will officially retire on May 1 at halftime of San Miguel’s game against Blackwater at the Philsports Arena in Pasig.
“We’re going to retire his jersey number. Magbibigay kami ng kaunting tribute for Arwind for all his contributions sa franchise,” said Abanilla after the team’s 98-91 win over Magnolia on Friday night in the Philippine Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“It’s just a way of giving back also to him (as a player). Nagustuhan din naman ng management yung mga binigay niya sa amin in the past. So just showing him some gratitude also.”
Abanilla said there were already talks about the retirement ceremony in the past, but it wasn't formalized only by management this week.
Santos, who reigned as MVP in 2013 while at the peak of his career with San Miguel, has already been informed about the ceremony.
“He’s (Santos) happy. E MVP din naman yun dati. And at the same time, marami rin siyang natulong sa franchise,” said Abanilla. “He’s happy, we’re happy so bibigyan namin siya ng kaunting gratitude.”
A 12-time All-Star, a two-time Finals MVP and two-time Best Player of the Conference, Santos’ stint with the Beermen came to an end in 2021 when the team decided to ship him to Northport in exchange for Vic Manuel.
Asked if the jersey retirement meant Santos won’t be playing for San Miguel for one last time, Abanilla said it’s all that Santos was asking for.
“Ok na yun. I think he wants to retire,” he said. “I think yun lang yung talagang gusto niya. It’s a personal choice also.”
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