by Waylon Galvez
San Miguel’s Arwind Santos said their Game 3 defeat to the Magnolia Hotshots on Sunday should serve as a wake-up call for the team if they are to recover and win the PBA Philippine Cup for the fifth straight time.
Santos pointed to overconfidence the reason why they suffered an 86-82 defeat that enabled the Hotshots to regain the lead, 2-1, in their best-of-seven title series.
“Ang nagiging problema kasi ng San Miguel, alam namin na lahat ng kalaban namin kaya naming talunin kapag ginusto namin e,” said Santos, whose team won Game 2, 108-101, last Friday after a 99-94 defeat in Game 1 last Wednesday.
“Ang problema, kapag nananalo ang team namin, meron kaming tendencies na overconfidence e. Parang feeling nila kaya na naming manalo uli sa susunod na game.”
“In the end, dapat mas alam namin na kapag tinalo namin yung kalaban, babalik silang mas malakas. Dapat do-doblehin namin yung effort,” added Santos, one of the vocal leaders of SMB.
Santos said he plans to bring this matter to the team during practice session, especially the way they were outrebounded by the Hotshots, 71-46.
Having the reigning five-time MVP in 6-foot-10 center in June Mar Fajardo and the 6-foot-9 Fil-German Standhardinger, that was embarrassing.
Rafi Reavis and Ian Sangalang each collected 15 boards, with the former getting 10 offensive rebounds.
Santos said it’s all about doubling their effort the entire game, and play with their strength.
“Dapat mas dumoble, kailangan mas dagdagan, mas agresibo, para kung meron silang double effort na ibibigay, nasasabayan namin. More of yung defense namin, dun ako magsa-suggest ng opinion,” said Santos.
As for being overconfident, the 6-foot-3 Santos said they have to find ways to fix it up or face the possibility of another stunning loss to Magnolia in Wednesday’s Game 4 of the finals at the Big Dome.
Santos said Magnolia is no easy opponent, since – like them – they are loaded with talented players and coaching staff led by mentor Chito Victolero, who in two games has been successful in exploiting the weaknesses of SMB.
“Hindi natin maiiwasan yun e, may mga ganun talaga. Kasi pagka alam mo na malakas at buo kayo, may mga tendencies na parang magre-relax ka, alam mo kayang kaya namin yan,” he said.
