Homesick Santillan turns emotional after DLSU win: ‘Para sa pamilya ko ito’

After the DLSU Green Archers solidified their place in the Final Four race with a victory over the NU Bulldogs, forward Santi Santillan turned emotional while singing his alma mater's song.

Santi Santillan emotional after DLSU’s win @gmanews pic.twitter.com/auDOy4xq8o

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) November 7, 2018

A Cebu native, Santillan became a part of the Taft-based squad after playing for the University of Visayas Lancers for three seasons in the CESAFI league.

"Noong nakaraang practice, tinanong kami ni Coach [Louie Gonzalez] kung kanino ide-dedicate 'tong season na 'to. After practice, umuwi ako, talagang umiyak ako kasi dine-dedicate ko 'to sa family ko kasi sobrang miss ko na sila. Hindi kami naglaro kasi kailangan manalo. Gusto naming manalo," Santillan said.

His parents and siblings are based in Cebu, while his wife and son live in Hawaii.

"Yung talagang pagiging homesick, dun ko nakukuha motivation," Santillan told reporters.

"Sakripisyo talaga. Wala na akong ibang [kamag-anak] dito. Buti nandyan teammates ko, coaches ko naging tatay ko rin. Minsan di na ako nagiging homesick," he added.

Part of being away from home, the 22-year-old Santillan recalled missing his one-year-old son's milestones.

"'Yung mga first word niya, first birthday, niya wala ako doon. Sobra talagang hirap."

Santillan said he last saw his family in Cebu back in December last year, while his wife and son were with him last February.

In his last playing year, Santillan is an essential part of DLSU's lean 13-man lineup, drawing praises from their head coach Louie Gonzalez. Just in today's game, he registered 18 points and five rebounds.

"When I looked at the stats, doon ko na-prove how efficient and how focused Santi is. He played the longest but committed no turnovers in this game. Sobra 'yung focus niya. 'Yung inspiration niya, since January pa lang alam ko na pinagdadaanan niya. Sabi ko sa kanya, 'yung ginagawa niya, para sa family niya," Gonzalez said.

"Nandito na. Konti na lang, 'dong," the rookie coach added.

Santillan's teammates said they are motivated with the way he plays every game.

"Alam ko 'yung feeling na nararamdaman ni Santi. Di ko rin nakakasama family ko e. Kung nakikita namin si Santi na ganyan, mas gaganahan kami na ibigay 100% namin," Aljun Melecio said.

Rookie Joaqui Manuel echoed Melecio: "Just by looking on how emotional he is during that game, it made me want to play more," he said.

With a Final Four slot getting near DLSU's hands, Santillan said he is hoping that he can bring his family here in Manila since they have not watched him play live inside the venue yet. "Pwede naman, kaso hindi ko alam kung may budget ako," he said. — BM, GMA News