Arwind Santos draws inspiration from ailing mom

MANILA, Philippines -- With his mother ailing and currently at the intensive care unit (ICU), Arwind Santos found a way to draw inspiration as he dedicates each game to her in San Miguel Beer’s ongoing title-retention bid in the PBA Philippine Cup.

The 6-foot-4 Santos admitted it wasn’t easy to shuttle back and forth at St. Luke’s Medical Center and the team’s practice venue at Acropolis gym in Quezon City as he fulfills his duty as a son and as a Beerman.

“Alam ni coach (Leo Austria) iyung nangyayari kay mama,” Santos confided to Philstar.com on Sunday while staying at St. Luke’s as his mother Arceli deals with a lung problem for over a week now.

“Pero siguro sinaksaksak ko na lang sa isip ko na kung si mama nga eh sinasabihan ko na lumaban, ako din dapat lumaban sa game,” he added.

The Beermen, the current defending champions in the Philippine Cup are on a roll as of late after winning their last four games.

Though he lacked sleep and was kept in suspense with his mother’s health concern, the former Far Eastern University “King Tamaraw” managed to level up his game in the Beermen’s last three games with averages of 20.5 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocks.

Santos scored the game-winning putback in San Miguel’s 106-105 squeaker of a win against Barako Bull, before leading San Miguel to a 101-90 beating of sister team Star Hotshots on Saturday.

The 34-year-old one-time PBA Most Valuable Player said his mother is doing much better health-wise, hopeful that she’ll be out of the hospital soon.

“Hinahanap ko na lang siya ng bahay na malilipatan, yung maraming puno sana para fresh air,” explained Santos.

Santos and the Beermen took a day off on Sunday but will return to practice the next day as they prepare for Mahindra.

The Beermen (6-1) eye the solo lead in the standings against the Enforcers when they collide on Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.