E-Painters alternate governor Oribiana "takes offense" on Arwind's remarks

Arwind Santos' comment that Ginebra will beat Rain Or Shine in the PBA Commissioner's Cup semifinals did not sit well with the latter's alternate governor. PBA Media Bureau (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--A pre-PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals drama is already brewing, and we're just still in the semifinal phase.

On Monday, Rain Or Shine alternate governor Edison Oribiana hit out at San Miguel's Arwind Santos for the latter's remarks on Sunday night.

Santos, when asked on which team he thinks the Beermen will face in the best-of-seven championship after they clinched their semifinal series against the Alaska Aces, said, "Tingin ko Ginebra. Kaya sila na siguro paghahandaan namin. Hindi namin nakikita na tatalunin sila ng Rain Or Shine."

However, Oribiana, through a statement, reacted, "As alternate governor of ROS, I take offense in Arwind Santos' statement that there is no way our team will beat Ginebra in this series. What makes him so sure about his statement? Does he know something we don’t?"

He then insisted, "Time and again we have showed that we can beat Ginebra on any given Sunday. We have the talent, skills and motivation to beat them. What I don’t understand is how this player can issue a statement that is a blatant disregard for respect to another team who is trying its very best to reach the finals."

Oribiana later said that this "insult to the entire Rain Or Shine organization and its fans" will give the team "extra motivation to 'dare to dream' and achieve what Mr. Santos said as 'impossible'."

The Elasto Painters are trailing the Barangay, 1-2, in their best-of-five affair with Game 4 scheduled later Monday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno