If you ask Arwind Santos, it's about time the Beermen play true to form

Asa amin," Santos admitted. "Yun nga, karamihan ng sinasabi nila, experience-wise at saka nakakailang championship na kami, dapat hindi naglalaro ng ganoon.

"Dapat kung lamang kami, pangalagaan na namin yun hanggang sa dulo ng laro, hanggang matapos," added the 12-year veteran who finished with 24 points, eight rebounds and two blocks.

But Santos was pleased with the way San Miguel responded after a 20-point lead in the third slowly disappeared, putting Magnolia in a position to steal the first game of the best-of-seven series, 105-103, two nights earlier at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"Siguro pinakita lang namin na hindi dahil naka-three-peat na kami papayag na lang kami ng ganun-ganun na lang," Santos said. "Siguro kaya pinakita ko na lang, bilang may-ari ng trono, kahit sino umagaw, magagalit ka.

"Siguro sa akin, walang personalan. Siguro, para sa akin, pinakita ko lang yung dapat kong i-contribute doon maliban sa maka-focus sa laro. Kailangan ipakita mo rin na hindi ka masisindak ng kahit sino sa loob.

"Kaya akala nila siguro nakikipag-away na ako, pero yun lang ay dahil gusto ko manalo, gusto ko maitie kasi mahirap na pag na 2-0 kami," added Santos, who figured in a verbal exchange with Jio Jalalon with 3:01 left in the fourth quarter and San Miguel holding an 87-71 lead.(JT) -