Santos asks for help, trust after un-MVP-like Game 5

MANILA, Philippines – Arwind Santos knelt down on Friday night thanking everyone else including the Almighty One above for finally getting the elusive Most Valuable Player hardware in the PBA.

He was a picture of strength and inspiration.

Santos shared how he went from being an errand boy, a pedicab driver and the other odd jobs he took just for him and his family to survive on his way to the top of Philippine basketball.

“Nabigyan po ng kulay ang buhay ko dahil sa award na ito,” said Santos, who fought back his tears from falling.  

“Naging utusan po ako dati tapos naging pedicab driver, nag bakal-bote, nag-carwash (boy), naglako rin ako ng orchids. Sobrang hirap namin noon,” Santos recalled. “Ito (MVP award) ang nagsasabi na kahit ang tao mahirap, may chance makuha ang award na ito. Sana ma-inspire ko po kayo.”

Two games since that victorious moment, Santos’ fortunes have changed drastically from being hero to zero.

He was vilified in the social media for bungling a crucial jumper and throwing an errant pass in the crucial moments of Game Four that enabled the San Mig Coffee Mixers to tie the series at two games apiece after a heart-stopping 88-86 victory despite blowing a 28-point lead.

In pivotal Game Five, Santos played his worst game of the conference ending up with only two points all from the 15-foot line.  

His stats line – 0-of-5 field goals, 2-of-4 free throws and four rebounds and one turnover that came in the dying moments – was uninspiring.  

At one point in the third quarter where the Mixers turned the game around, Santos, who was growingly frustrated, was called for a flagrant foul penalty one for tripping Joe Devance to the floor.

“Before this game I had a talk with him, we assured him that our confidence remains in him,” Petron coach Gee Abanilla told reporters after Petron lost for the second straight time in the series, 103-114.

“He’s been hearing a lot of things on social media and assured him the team is backing him up and we believe in him. Other people may have some opinion, but for us, he’s a valuable piece of our team and we need him.”

Santos was emotional after the loss.

"Alam ko hindi ako sinisisi ng mga kasama ko pero tao lang tayo, naapektuhan din ako ng game,” said a teary-eyed Santos, who tried hard to compose himself before reporters inside the Petron Blaze locker room.

“Siguro kailangan ko ang mga kasama ko. Sana magtiwala pa rin sila,” Santos pleaded for help.

Ronald Tubid, the only other Petron player left in the locker room, tapped him on the back to comfort him before heading out.

“Pilit kong nilalabanan ang emosyon ko. Sana maitago ko ito (sa mga teammates ko) para hindi sila mahawa,” Santos continued. “Sana maayos ko sarili ko, itong nararamdaman ko, para makabawi kami."

He felt the whole weight of being the league’s Most Valuable Player.

With great award, comes great responsibility for the man they call the Spiderman in the PBA.

“Ako, ayoko na lang magsalita kung ano ang gusto kong ipakita,” said Santos, who will give everything to bounce back in do-or-die Game Six. “Aayusin ko pa, siguro kahit sa depensa at rebounds makatulong ako.”

In Games Four and Five, Santos was the MVP for all the wrong reasons. He was Petron’s Missing Valuable Player.

“Sa mga ganitong sitwasyon, sa Diyos ako humuhugot ng lakas, sa mga mahal ko sa buhay, sa mga anak ko, sa mama ko, asawa ko, mga kaibigan kong mabuti sa akin at sa lahat ng fans, sa Petroniverse,” Santos said.  â€œSila ang mga nagsisilbing positives sa akin kapag negative ako.”

Long after the rest of Petron team have gone out of the locker room, Santos remained with his head bowed down as tears rolled down his cheeks.

He was a picture of vulnerability and despair.  

Santos broke down on Sunday night asking everyone else including the Almighty One above to give him the courage and strength to survive and find his way back to get the elusive PBA title.