PBA: Confident Arwind Santos ready to make history as San Miguel targets Grand Slam

Arwind Santos has been vocal about his humble beginnings in basketball during interviews, often talking about playing bruised, bleeding, and banged up just for loose change back in his home province Pampanga.

As someone who started from the bottom and went on to become a three-time PBA champion, the San Miguel Beer team captain has eliminated the word "impossible" from his vocabulary, accepting the challenge of achieving a rare Grand Slam.

San Miguel Corporation big boss Ramon Ang dared the recently crowned Governors' Cup champions to go for a sweep of three conference titles during the team's victory party on Monday night, and Santos did not shy away from the opportunity to make history.

"Bakit hindi? Simula naman nung bata pa ako, di ko naman akalain na makakarating ako dito e. Parang ganun lang 'yun," he told reporters while taking a break from the meet-and-greet and autograph signing with SMB fans.

The veteran forward said he is confident that the current team is capable of pulling off a Grand Slam, which would be the second for the San Miguel franchise after Norman Black steered the team to its first in 1989.

"'Yung pangarap at saka vision ng management na Grand Slam, pipilitin namin dahil alam namin 'yung team namin ngayon, kaya namin," he said. "Pati 'yung big boss namin nabitawan ['yung salita], so alam niya na kaya naming makuha yung Grand Slam."

With the Grand Slam in their sights, Santos said the team has to work for their goal every game and avoid a slip-up similar to what happened in their Commissioner's Cup run right after winning the Philippine Cup trophy.

"Sana hindi na maulit 'yung nangyari na pagkatapos namin mag-champion di kami nakapasok sa quarters," he said. "'Yun ang panalangin ko. Total andito na kami sa top, sana wag naman kami bumaba ng biglaan."

If San Miguel succeeds, it would be the sixth Grand Slam in PBA history and the Beermen would be the second double Grand Slam winner after the defunct Crispa Redmanizers. - RAF, GMA News