What keeps PBA’s Spiderman Arwind Santos in top form

Arwind Santos, called Spiderman for his fancy dunks, led the San Miguel Beermen to the 2015 PBA Philippine Cup crown. Arwind, one of the most famous and decorated professional basketball players today, won the Finals MVP award.

This win is San Miguel’s first all-Filipino title since 2001. They last won a PBA championship during the 2011 Governors’ Cup where Santos was also the Finals MVP.

Carlo Pamintuan of Yahoo! Sports wrote: “In this conference, Santos erased all doubts. From the first game of the Beermen with The Spiderman as their captain, it was obvious that there was something different with him. The old fire, the fire that made him a champion in the UAAP, was there. He was defending better, leading harder, and playing smarter.”

“With a great conference and an epic performance in the finals, Arwind Santos turned his biggest doubters to believers without even trying. I guess they just wanted to see if he really cared for the team. I guess, in a macabre way, they just wanted to see him bleed to know he was really one of them,” he added.

“Ang tao kasi may doubt talaga. Pag nakikita nila yung isang manlalaro na maganda yung numero pero hindi nananalo ng championship, sasabihin nila pang eliminations lang pero wala sa finals. Normal lang naman sa tao yun,” Arwind told Yahoo! Sports. “Hindi ko ipinagmamalaki sa kanila na nanalo ako ng Finals MVP at natulungan kong manalo ng championship yung San Miguel. Ako kasi concerned lang ako sa mga sumusuporta sa amin, sa pamilya ko na sumusuporta sa akin. Nung MVP ako, masaya naman pero natalo kami sa finals. Ngayon mas masaya ako kasi hindi lang ako yung may iuuwi. Sa aming lahat yung trophy. Kami lahat yung champion.” (I understand why people doubt players with great statistics but don’t lead their team to a championship title. That’s normal. I won’t brag to them that I’m the Finals MVP and I helped San Miguel win the championship. I just focus on our supporters and my family who backs me up all the way. When I last became MVP, I was happy although we lost the finals. Now, I’m overjoyed because I’m not the only one bringing home an award. We all won the trophy. We are all champions.)

Arwind is versatile and highly skilled both offensively and defensively. Basketball is a sport he loves passionately. He is first to recount how the sport changed his life from being a humble pedicab driver in his hometown Pampanga to becoming one of our country’s elite basketball athletes.

Born to inspire, he told us,  “Kulang ang isang page sa gusto kong sabihin. Ang story ko, ang lalim ng pinanggalingan na sana maging inspirasyon sa mga bata. Kung tatanungin mo ako if contented na ako, hindi. Kasi madami pa akong gustong gawin.” (One page isn’t enough for what I want to share. I’ve come very far from being a pedicab driver to PBA Most Valuable Player, and I hope I can be an inspiration for the kids. If you asked me if I was already contented, I would say no; there are so many other things I would like to do.)

PHILIPPINE STAR: How did your basketball career start?

From a pedicab driver to PBA MVP: “I hope I can be an inspiration for the kids. If you asked me if I was already contented, I would say no; there are so many other things I would like to do,” says Arwind Santos. www.pba-online.net

ARWIND SANTOS: Tagalog nalang tayo nasa Pilipinas tayo e. Sa Pampanga ako nagstart magbasketball. Sa mga ligang bayan. Dun din ako nadiscover. (I started out playing in Pampanga, in local leagues. It was also there that I got discovered.)

What role does basketball play in your life?

Binago nito buhay ko. Alam nyo naman dati lang akong pedicab driver. Basketball ang nagbigay kung anong meron ako ngayon. (Basketball changed my life. I used to be a simple pedicab driver, but basketball has given me everything that I have today.)

How can playing basketball benefit other people?

Depende sa kanila yan. Kung di talaga meant na mag sports ang tao, mali rin naman na pilitin e. Pero kung base sa experience ko, bubuhayin ka ng sports at makakatulong ka pa sa ibang tao. Isama mo na rin yung part na gusto mo talaga ang ginagawa mo. (It really depends on the person. Some people aren’t meant for sports, and it’s wrong to force people. Based on my experience though, sports can provide for you and give you the opportunity to help out as well. Plus, I really love what I’m doing.)

How does strength and conditioning help improve your game?

Sa SMB ang iniiwasan ko yung bumaba laro ko. They expect me to deliver each game. Kaya kung nakita nyo MTV ng song ko na Bagyo, makikita nyo dun routine ko. Strength and conditioning namin maipagmamalaki ko. It works. Parang Dexter’s Pizza ko. I swear! Masarap talaga! Haha joke lang. (Playing for SMB, I strive to keep my game in top form. They expect me to deliver each game. If you’ve seen the MTV for my song Bagyo, you’d get a glimpse of my routine. I’m proud of my strength and conditioning regimen, and I can say it definitely works.)

What specific workout do you do to get better at your sport?

Plyometrics is a regular thing for me.

Any tips for readers who want to excel in basketball?

Importante mapagkumbaba. Marunong kang tumingin sa pinanggalingan mo. Ang talent nandiyan lang. Attitude mo dapat maayos. Malayo mararating mo pag baon mo magandang outlook sa buhay. (Stay humble, and never forget where you came from. Talent is innate, but you have to keep your attitude in check. You’ll go far with a great outlook in life.)

Any last tips on how to succeed in reaching your goals?

Yung bisyo iwasan mo. (Avoid vices.)

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.