From zero to Beerman hero: Arwind Santos reflects on humble beginnings

MANILA, Philippines -- “Nothing is impossible.”

With his No. 29 San Miguel jersey now hanging from the rafters, Arwind Santos looked back at his humble beginnings and how every struggle he went through led him to where he is now.

The iconic jersey of “The Spiderman” was retired by the Beermen, a team he won nine championships with, on Wednesday evening.

During his speech, the 6-foot-4 forward from Pampanga shared his origins, saying he just tried to provide for his family.

“Ang dating Arwind Santos po talaga ay nagbabakal bote lang po dati, nag-e-ending, nagju-jueteng, nagtitinda-tinda lang diyan sa kalye, nangungutang sa kapitbahay. Sobrang daming pinagdaanan sa buhay,” he said during the ceremony held at halftime of the clash between San Miguel and Blackwater, which the Beermen won, 124-109.

“Isa po iyon sa naging dahilan para magsikap po ako, dahil yung time na nabubuhay po yung nanay at tatay ko, hirap po kami. Tama lang po, pero hirap po kami sa buhay. Pero masaya po ang pamilya,” he added.

The former league Most Valuable Player and many-time All-Star said he promised his late father that he would reach his dreams and provide for his family.

And with his jersey retired, he bared that he did not think that such an opportunity would come.

“Isa lang po ang masasabi ko: wala po talagang imposible sa mundo. Dahil ako po mismo, na hindi ko po pinangarap na maging magaling na basketbolista, ang gusto ko lang po noon, makatulong lang po ako sa pamilya, makapag-uwi ng pang pangangailangan sa bahay. Yun lang po talaga,” he stressed.

“Kahit anong posisyon natin sa buhay, bakal-bote ka man, o ano mang pinagdadaanan mo, carwasher o ano man, kaya niyo rin ang natupad ko. Kaya niyo rin ang naabot ko. Depende lang po yan kung paano niyo aabutin… Basta wala pong pandaraya, wala pong panlalamang, wala pong kayabangan,” he added.

Santos, who played with swagger almost second to none throughout his career, also apologized to fans and players who he may have annoyed in the past.

“Pasensya na rin po, gusto ko pong humingi ng sorry sa mga fans na naiinis po sa akin, sorry sa mga players, sorry rin po sa pag nagkakaroon tayo ng sakitan, sa lahat po ng mga naiinis sa akin, sorry, yun lang po ang gusto kong sabihin,” he said.

“Hindi nila alam, kaya lang po ako ganun kaangas sa laro, kasi po may pangangailangan din po kami, may binubuhay rin po kami. Pagpasensyahan niyo na po ako, wala po akong masamang intensyon, gusto ko lang pong manalo, gusto ko lang pong umasenso.”

'Well-deserved jersey retirement'

Meanwhile, former teammates Chris Ross, Marcio Lassiter and June Mar Fajardo also lauded Santos for the honor.

Ross, in a speech, underscored how Santos worked for everything he got – on and off the court.

“He came from pretty much nothing. He’s earned everything he got. I feel like this is the embodiment of this retirement right here. Been teammates with Arwind through eight championships, me being his point guard, we didn’t call one play for Arwind,” he said.

“Not one play was designed for Arwind. He literally went and took everything that he got, whether it was a rebound over a guy that’s bigger than him or shooting a clutch three-point shot over a defender that’s bigger than him. He literally earned everything he got. Well deserved,” he added.

Fajardo and Lassiter emphasized just how important the forward was for their PBA championships.

Santos, Fajardo, Lassiter and Ross are part of the so-called "Death Five" that dominated the league.