Santos insists: "Hindi ako mapipikon sa fans"

When asked on whether the heckling is already paying dividends against him, Santos said, "Hindi ako mapipikon sa fans. Maniwala kayo." Dennis Jerome Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

PASAY--Every time there is a playoff game involving Ginebra, expect the fans to go full throttle in heckling the other team's star players.

The latest person who is getting the "hot" treatment from the Ginebra faithfuls is San Miguel's Arwind Santos, beginning in Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals.

While Santos had the last laugh on Sunday night when the Beermen stole Game 2 from the Barangay,  it was the fans who got the better of the heckling battle two nights later as the Barangay took Game 3 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

[Related Story: Ginebra bounces back with Game 3 win vs SMB]

Santos had decent stats of 13 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals, but he was 1-for-6 from 22 feet out--the team shot 6-of-29 from deep as a unit--which somehow hampered SMB's cause.

But when asked on whether the heckling is already paying dividends against him, Santos said, "Hindi ako mapipikon sa fans. Maniwala kayo."

The 36-year-old Angeles native then insisted that he is already used to the trolling job since he was young.

"Ako kasi, isinilang sa isang lugar na magulo," Santos recalled how Angeles was during his childhood days. "Marami akong kaibigan na magaling mang-asar."

On how he deals with the boos, jeers, and the taunts during the game, Santos said, "Ine-enjoy ko na lang yung mga pang-aasar nila. Yung focus ko sa laro, di naman mawawala yun."

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