Arwind Santos
Encyclopedia
Arwind Santos is a Filipino
professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association
playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He also played college hoops at Far Eastern University
in the UAAP and the Magnolia Ice Cream Spinners in the Philippine Basketball League
. Santos was selected second overall by the Air21 Express in the 2006 PBA Draft
.
during his high school career. In 2000, he became well known during zonal competitions because of his hardwork on the basketball court.
where he won Rookie of the Year honors. With the Tamaraws struggling to enter the Final Four, Santos was still able to put a decent performance. One of the highlights of his freshman year was a game-tying three against eventual champion Ateneo Blue Eagles
.
In 2003, Santos led the Tamaraws to the UAAP title for the first time in six seasons, sweeping the Blue Eagles in the process. Santos was a candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award, but was beaten by University of the East
star James Yap
. However, by leading the Tamaraws to the title, he was named Finals MVP. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year and was part of the Mythical Five together with season MVP Yap, Rich Alvarez
, Paul Artadi
, and Reynaldo Mendoza.
Santos would win the Most Valuable Player plum the next season (2004) but the Tamaraws lost to the De La Salle Green Archers
in three crucial games. However, with the controversy that surrounded the Archers, the title was then awarded to the Morayta-based team. He also made it to the UAAP Mythical Five alongside Mark Cardona
, LA Tenorio
, Paolo Bugia
and Dennis Miranda
.
In his last year (2005) in the UAAP, he again led the team to the title by sweeping the anticipated championship rematch against the Green Archers thereby giving the FEU Tamaraws a three-peat from 2003-2005. Santos was adjudged Season MVP and Finals MVP. He was also named to the Mythical Five with Isip, Tenorio, Edwin Asoro and Joseph Yeo
.
He is one of the only two players in the FEU Tamaraws
that had his jersey retired. The other was Johnny Abarrientos
.
In 2004, Santos led Viva to its first PBL crown defeating Welcoat Paints in the 2004 Unity Cup. He was adjudged PBL MVP during the tournament and was part of the 2004 Mythical Five alongside former PBA players Jojo Tangkay
and Chester Tolomia and teammates Dennis Miranda
and Mark Isip
. In 2006, he led Magnolia Ice Cream to the PBL Heroes Cup title, coming back from 0-2 deficit to defeat Welcoat Paints. In the PBL Unity Cup, Magnolia made an early exit. However, Santos still made the Mythical Second Team in his final PBL conference.
In the 2006 PBA Draft
, Santos was selected second overall by the Air21 Express. He later signed a deal to play his first three seasons with the team, playing alongside Ranidel de Ocampo
, Yancy de Ocampo
, and KG Canaleta
. He chose to wear the number 29 since his usual number 19 was already worn by Wynne Arboleda
.
He ranked first among rookies in scoring during the Philippine Cup and almost led the Express to a quarterfinals appearance only to lose against the Sta. Lucia Realtors
in a knockout match. He wound up with averages of 14.2 points per game (ppg), 8.3 rebounds per game (rpg), 0.9 assists per game (apg), 0.8 steals per game (spg), and 1.2 blocks per game (bpg). Because of his sterling play, he made it to the Mythical Second Team as well as the All-Defensive Team
.
Santos was one of the leading contenders for the Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors at the season's end with the likes of Sta. Lucia's
Kelly Williams
and Welcoat's Jay-R Reyes
as among the possible winners. Williams eventually won the ROY award. But Santos was part of the All-Rookie Team together with Williams, Jay-R Reyes
, Jireh Ibañez and LA Tenorio
.
The next season, 2007-2008 season, Santos and Williams faced each other again for the Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award by finishing No. 1 and 2 in the statistical points (SPs). However, despite trailing in the SPs department, Williams would win the award with Santos finishing No. 2 just like in the previous year's rookie race. Santos eventually posted numbers of 16.3 ppg (8th-best), 9.6 rpg (4th best), 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg (8th-best) and 1.5 bpg (2nd-best) on the way to earning a berth in both the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award. He led the Express team to a runner-up finish against Barangay Ginebra together with import Steve Thomas in the Fiesta Cup. At season's end, Santos and Williams battled it out again, this time for the MVP award, which went again to Williams (2762 points) as against Santos' 1775 points. This would be the third time that Williams edged out Santos in the race for a major award (2006-07 ROY and 2007-08 Philippine Cup BPC)..
In the 2008-2009 season
, Santos averaged 26.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.2 spg and 1.1 bpg. By virtue of his consistent play, Santos made it to the Mythical First Team for the second year in a row and the All-Defensive Team for the third straight year.. This year would prove to be his last year with the Express team.
During the off season Arwind Santos finally got his wish to play for the San Miguel Beermen
, the winningest team in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association.
None among the officials confirmed the trade although a highly-placed source revealed that Santos was shipped to the Beermen in exchange for two players – 6-foot-4 power forward Marc Pingris
and 6-foot-6 sophomore Ken Bono
, and San Miguel's 2010 first round pick.
In the 2009-2010 season
, his first year with the San Miguel franchise, he shared stellar minutes with the likes of Jay Washington
, Dondon Hontiveros
, Danny Seigle
and Alex Cabagnot
. Because of this his averages dipped a bit as he posted averages of 14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.2 bpg. He again made it to the Mythical First Team (3rd-straight) and All-Defensive Team (4th time in 4 years).
In the first round of the 2010-11 Philippine Cup
, San Miguel compiled an 11-3 record while Santos averaged 16.6 points per game. In the 2011 PBA Governors Cup
, he was awarded with the Best Player of the Conference. He also led his team to an improbable championship in the Governor's Cup conference over the highly favored Talk 'N Text team who was aiming to complete a grand slam. In so doing, he was named the Phoenix Fuels-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP. Santos posted the following averages at season's end, 25.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.0 spg and 1.3 bpg on the way to earning berths in the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team for the 4th and 5th year in a row, respectively.
in 2006 and coach Yeng Guiao
in 2008.
In August 2010, Santos, along with other PBA players, was considered as a possible reinforcement for Smart Gilas
, as the developmental Philippine national basketball team was looking to make the squad more competitive.
Santos also suited up for the PBA All-Stars in the NBA-Asia Challenge 2009 dubbed as "NBA Generations vs. PBA All-Stars" held last September 11, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum. The NBA Generations team featured NBA legends Dominique Wilkins
, Tim Hardaway
, Vlade Divac
and Robert Horry
and coached by NBA six-time MVP and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Making up the PBA All-Stars line-up were PBA legends Alvin Patrimonio
, Allan Caidic
, Ronnie Magsanoc
, Benjie Paras
and Kenneth Duremdes
and active players Santos, Wynne Arboleda
, Japeth Aguilar
, Dondon Hontiveros
, Jay-R Reyes
, Marc Pingris
, Enrico Villanueva
, Sonny Thoss
, Willie Miller
and Joseph Yeo
. The NBA Generations defeated the PBA All-Stars 109-86 behind the efforts of Wilkins (28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) and Horry (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists). The PBA All-Stars were led by Caidic, Miller and Hontiveros with 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively while Santos scored 5 points.
Santos was again selected to play in the NBA-Asia Challenge 2010 where the two teams, Red and White, were composed of a mixture of NBA and PBA legends as well as NBA D-Leaguers and active PBA players. Making up the Red team were NBA legends Glen Rice
and Gary Payton
, D-leaguers Darnell Lazare and Chris McCray
reinforced by PBA legends Caidic, Vergel Meneses
, Atoy Co
and active players like Santos, Rico Maierhofer
and LA Tenorio
while the White team was composed of NBA legends Chris Webber
and Mitch Richmond
with help from D-leaguers Richie Frahm
, who was also a former PBA import, and Mark Tyndale and PBA legends Paras, Magsanoc, Patrimonio and active players Hontiveros and Ronald Tubid
. Santos fired 16 points along with Meneses as they supported Caidic who scored 54 points including 14 3-point shots as the Red team walloped the White team 177-167..
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association
Philippine Basketball Association
The Philippine Basketball Association , is a men's professional basketball league in the Philippines composed of 10 company-branded franchised teams. It is the first and oldest professional basketball league in Asia and the second oldest in the world after the NBA...
playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He also played college hoops at Far Eastern University
Far Eastern University
Far Eastern University in the University Belt area, West Sampaloc, City of Manila, is a nonsectarian, private university in the Philippines. Created by the merger of Far Eastern College and the Institute of Accounts, Business and Finance, FEU became a university in 1934 under the guidance of...
in the UAAP and the Magnolia Ice Cream Spinners in the Philippine Basketball League
Philippine Basketball League
The Philippine Basketball League is a commercial semi-professional basketball league in the Philippines. The league is composed of several commercial teams with several collegiate and provincial stars.-History:...
. Santos was selected second overall by the Air21 Express in the 2006 PBA Draft
2006 PBA Draft
The 2006 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 20, 2006. The Sta. Lucia Realtors chose Kelly Williams of Oakland University and PBL-Magnolia as the first...
.
High School Career
Santos played for Lubao InstituteLubao Institute
Lubao Institute or LI is located in San Nicolas 1st, Lubao, Pampanga. Established in February 1929, it is the first and oldest private school in Lubao.On February 2012, LI will celebrate its 83rd Founding Anniversary.-Successful Alumni:...
during his high school career. In 2000, he became well known during zonal competitions because of his hardwork on the basketball court.
UAAP career
Santos arrived at the UAAP scene in 2002 with the FEU TamarawsFEU Tamaraws
The FEU Tamaraws is the collegiate men's varsity team of Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines...
where he won Rookie of the Year honors. With the Tamaraws struggling to enter the Final Four, Santos was still able to put a decent performance. One of the highlights of his freshman year was a game-tying three against eventual champion Ateneo Blue Eagles
Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo de Manila University is a private teaching and research university run by the Society of Jesus in the Philippines. It began in 1859 when the City of Manila handed control of the Escuela Municipal de Manila in Intramuros, Manila, to the Jesuits...
.
In 2003, Santos led the Tamaraws to the UAAP title for the first time in six seasons, sweeping the Blue Eagles in the process. Santos was a candidate to win the Most Valuable Player Award, but was beaten by University of the East
University of the East
The University of the East is a private nonsectarian university located in University Belt Area, district of Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines. The university was founded in 1946 as a coeducational institution...
star James Yap
James Yap
James Carlos Yap Sr. is a Filipino professional basketball player for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association...
. However, by leading the Tamaraws to the title, he was named Finals MVP. He was also named Defensive Player of the Year and was part of the Mythical Five together with season MVP Yap, Rich Alvarez
Rich Alvarez
Richard D. "Rich" Alvarez is a Filipino professional basketball player and currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters of the Philippine Basketball Association. Alvarez was the first overall pick of 2004 PBA Draft by the Shell Turbo Chargers...
, Paul Artadi
Paul Artadi
Paul Anthony Dy Artadi is a professional Filipino basketball player for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association....
, and Reynaldo Mendoza.
Santos would win the Most Valuable Player plum the next season (2004) but the Tamaraws lost to the De La Salle Green Archers
De La Salle University-Manila
De La Salle University is a private Lasallian university in Malate, Manila, Philippines. It was founded in 1911 by De La Salle Brothers as the De La Salle College in Paco, Manila with Blimond Pierre serving as its first director...
in three crucial games. However, with the controversy that surrounded the Archers, the title was then awarded to the Morayta-based team. He also made it to the UAAP Mythical Five alongside Mark Cardona
Mark Cardona
Mark "Macmac" Cardona is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Meralco Bolts in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, LA Tenorio
LA Tenorio
Lewis Alfred V. Tenorio , better known as L.A. Tenorio, is a Filipino professional basketball point guard who currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Paolo Bugia
Paolo Bugia
Ramon Paolo V. Bugia is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who plays for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. He was drafted seventeenth overall by the Red Bull Barako in the 2005 PBA Draft.In his rookie year, He averaged 4.0 points per game and 2.6 rebounds...
and Dennis Miranda
Dennis Miranda
Dennis Miranda also known as Denok Miranda is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
.
In his last year (2005) in the UAAP, he again led the team to the title by sweeping the anticipated championship rematch against the Green Archers thereby giving the FEU Tamaraws a three-peat from 2003-2005. Santos was adjudged Season MVP and Finals MVP. He was also named to the Mythical Five with Isip, Tenorio, Edwin Asoro and Joseph Yeo
Joseph Yeo
Joseph Henry L. Yeo , better known as Joseph Yeo, is a Filipino-Chinese professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
.
He is one of the only two players in the FEU Tamaraws
FEU Tamaraws
The FEU Tamaraws is the collegiate men's varsity team of Far Eastern University in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines...
that had his jersey retired. The other was Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos
Johnny Abarrientos is a retired Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a many-time member of the Philippine National team, and was the 1996 PBA MVP, becoming the shortest player to win the league's highest individual award.He is known by many...
.
Philippine Basketball League
In 2003, Santos made his PBL debut for Viva Mineral Water, a team composed of fellow FEU teammates. After a slow start, he led the Water Force all the way to the PBL Unity Cup Finals, where they lost in five games to Hapee Toothpaste.In 2004, Santos led Viva to its first PBL crown defeating Welcoat Paints in the 2004 Unity Cup. He was adjudged PBL MVP during the tournament and was part of the 2004 Mythical Five alongside former PBA players Jojo Tangkay
Jojo Tangkay
Jercules "Jojo" Tangkay is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who notably played for the Welcoat Dragons. He was drafted 16th overall by Sta. Lucia in 2001....
and Chester Tolomia and teammates Dennis Miranda
Dennis Miranda
Dennis Miranda also known as Denok Miranda is a Filipino professional basketball player. He currently plays in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
and Mark Isip
Mark Isip
Mark Gracer Isip is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Meralco Bolts. He was drafted sixth overall by Sta. Lucia in 2006...
. In 2006, he led Magnolia Ice Cream to the PBL Heroes Cup title, coming back from 0-2 deficit to defeat Welcoat Paints. In the PBL Unity Cup, Magnolia made an early exit. However, Santos still made the Mythical Second Team in his final PBL conference.
PBA career
2006 PBA Draft
The 2006 Philippine Basketball Association Rookie Draft is an event, which allows teams to draft players from the amateur ranks. The event was held at Market! Market! in Taguig City on August 20, 2006. The Sta. Lucia Realtors chose Kelly Williams of Oakland University and PBL-Magnolia as the first...
, Santos was selected second overall by the Air21 Express. He later signed a deal to play his first three seasons with the team, playing alongside Ranidel de Ocampo
Ranidel de Ocampo
Ranidel Rozal de Ocampo , better known as Ranidel de Ocampo, is a professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association. de Ocampo currently plays for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters after he was traded by Air21 Express. He is the younger brother of Yancy de Ocampo...
, Yancy de Ocampo
Yancy de Ocampo
Yancy Rozal de Ocampo is a Filipino professional basketball player who will play for the B-Meg Llamados in the Philippine Basketball Association. At 6'9", he is a good outside shooter and a low post threat. He is also among the PBL's Top 20 Players of All-time...
, and KG Canaleta
Niño Canaleta
Rommel Niño Canaleta is a Filipino professional basketball player of Filipino-American descent. He currently plays for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. A 6'5", 200-pound swingman, he is fondly called by nicknames like KG, The Big Ticket, and The Da Vinci of Dunk...
. He chose to wear the number 29 since his usual number 19 was already worn by Wynne Arboleda
Wynne Arboleda
Wynne Arboleda is a Filipino basketball player playing professionally for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association...
.
He ranked first among rookies in scoring during the Philippine Cup and almost led the Express to a quarterfinals appearance only to lose against the Sta. Lucia Realtors
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
in a knockout match. He wound up with averages of 14.2 points per game (ppg), 8.3 rebounds per game (rpg), 0.9 assists per game (apg), 0.8 steals per game (spg), and 1.2 blocks per game (bpg). Because of his sterling play, he made it to the Mythical Second Team as well as the All-Defensive Team
Philippine Basketball Association All-Defensive Team award
The Philippine Basketball Association All-Defensive Team award is the award given to the five players which exhibited outstanding defensive capabalities in each of basketball's five positions: point guard, shooting guard , small forward, power forward and center.-Awardees per year:*1985: Chito...
.
Santos was one of the leading contenders for the Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors at the season's end with the likes of Sta. Lucia's
Sta. Lucia Realtors
The Sta. Lucia Realtors was a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association.The Universal Robina Corporation team is one of the founding members of the PBA. Formerly known as Great Taste and Presto-Tivoli Ice Cream, they have won a total of 6 championships. Sta...
Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams
Kelly Williams is a Filipino-American professional basketball player currently playing for the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
and Welcoat's Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Alaska Aces.-Rain or Shine:...
as among the possible winners. Williams eventually won the ROY award. But Santos was part of the All-Rookie Team together with Williams, Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Alaska Aces.-Rain or Shine:...
, Jireh Ibañez and LA Tenorio
LA Tenorio
Lewis Alfred V. Tenorio , better known as L.A. Tenorio, is a Filipino professional basketball point guard who currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association...
.
The next season, 2007-2008 season, Santos and Williams faced each other again for the Philippine Cup Best Player of the Conference (BPC) award by finishing No. 1 and 2 in the statistical points (SPs). However, despite trailing in the SPs department, Williams would win the award with Santos finishing No. 2 just like in the previous year's rookie race. Santos eventually posted numbers of 16.3 ppg (8th-best), 9.6 rpg (4th best), 1.7 apg, 1.2 spg (8th-best) and 1.5 bpg (2nd-best) on the way to earning a berth in both the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team. He also won the Defensive Player of the Year award. He led the Express team to a runner-up finish against Barangay Ginebra together with import Steve Thomas in the Fiesta Cup. At season's end, Santos and Williams battled it out again, this time for the MVP award, which went again to Williams (2762 points) as against Santos' 1775 points. This would be the third time that Williams edged out Santos in the race for a major award (2006-07 ROY and 2007-08 Philippine Cup BPC)..
In the 2008-2009 season
2008–09 PBA season
-Finals results:*Philippine Cup Finals: Talk 'N Text def. Alaska , 4 games to 3.**Finals MVP: Mark Cardona *Third place: Sta. Lucia -Finals results:*Philippine Cup Finals: (2) Talk 'N Text (12-6) def. (1) Alaska (11-7), 4 games to 3.**Finals MVP: Mark Cardona (Talk 'N Text)*Third place: Sta....
, Santos averaged 26.7 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.2 spg and 1.1 bpg. By virtue of his consistent play, Santos made it to the Mythical First Team for the second year in a row and the All-Defensive Team for the third straight year.. This year would prove to be his last year with the Express team.
During the off season Arwind Santos finally got his wish to play for the San Miguel Beermen
San Miguel Beermen
The Petron Blaze Boosters is a professional basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association. The team has been a member of the league since its inception in 1975 and hold the most PBA titles with 19.The team is owned by the Petron Corporation, a subsidiary of the Philippines' largest food...
, the winningest team in the history of the Philippine Basketball Association.
None among the officials confirmed the trade although a highly-placed source revealed that Santos was shipped to the Beermen in exchange for two players – 6-foot-4 power forward Marc Pingris
Marc Pingris
Jean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
and 6-foot-6 sophomore Ken Bono
Ken Bono
Karl Kenneth O. Bono , better known as Ken Bono, is a Filipino basketball player, selected sixth overall by the Alaska Aces in the 2007 PBA Draft...
, and San Miguel's 2010 first round pick.
In the 2009-2010 season
2009–10 PBA season
The 2009–10 PBA Season was the 35th season of the Philippine Basketball Association . The season formally opened on October 11, 2009 and ended on August 18, 2010...
, his first year with the San Miguel franchise, he shared stellar minutes with the likes of Jay Washington
Jay Washington
Anthony Jay Washington, better known as Jay Washington is a Filipino-American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Petron Blaze Boosters.-College:...
, Dondon Hontiveros
Dondon Hontiveros
Donaldo "Dondon" Hontiveros is a Filipino professional basketball player actively playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He has a son named Isaiah with singer and fellow Cebu native Gail Blanco.A devout Christian, Hontiveros studied and honed his basketball...
, Danny Seigle
Danny Seigle
Daniel Charles Seigle is a Filipino American professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barako Bull Energy. A 6'6", 205-lb. swingman, he is fondly called Dynamite Danny and Danny S. by many...
and Alex Cabagnot
Alex Cabagnot
Alex Cabagnot is a Filipino professional basketball player currently playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters. He plays the point guard position. Alex once had a rivalry with Mark Caguioa for of the Eagle Rock High School scoring record.-About the player:He was drafted by the Sta...
. Because of this his averages dipped a bit as he posted averages of 14.6 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.1 spg and 1.2 bpg. He again made it to the Mythical First Team (3rd-straight) and All-Defensive Team (4th time in 4 years).
In the first round of the 2010-11 Philippine Cup
2010–11 PBA Philippine Cup
-San Miguel vs. Air21:-B-Meg Derby Ace-Meralco series:-Barangay Ginebra-Alaska series:-Talk 'N Text-B-Meg Derby Ace series:-San Miguel-Barangay Ginebra series:-Finals:-Conference records:-Team:-Individual:-Conference:...
, San Miguel compiled an 11-3 record while Santos averaged 16.6 points per game. In the 2011 PBA Governors Cup
2011 PBA Governors Cup
- Imports :The following is the list of imports, which had played for their respective teams at least once, with the returning imports in italics. Highlighted are the imports who stayed with their respective teams for the entire conference....
, he was awarded with the Best Player of the Conference. He also led his team to an improbable championship in the Governor's Cup conference over the highly favored Talk 'N Text team who was aiming to complete a grand slam. In so doing, he was named the Phoenix Fuels-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP. Santos posted the following averages at season's end, 25.3 ppg, 10.7 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.0 spg and 1.3 bpg on the way to earning berths in the Mythical First Team and All-Defensive Team for the 4th and 5th year in a row, respectively.
International career
He also suited up for the Philippine National Team a couple of times under coach Chot ReyesChot Reyes
Vincent P. Reyes , better known as Chot Reyes, is a Filipino basketball head coach of the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
in 2006 and coach Yeng Guiao
Yeng Guiao
Joseller "Yeng" Guiao is a Filipino professional basketball head coach for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters in the Philippine Basketball Association, and was also the head coach of the Philippine National Basketball Team. Guiao won four PBA titles since starting his head coaching job for Swift in...
in 2008.
In August 2010, Santos, along with other PBA players, was considered as a possible reinforcement for Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas
Smart Gilas Pilipinas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas...
, as the developmental Philippine national basketball team was looking to make the squad more competitive.
Santos also suited up for the PBA All-Stars in the NBA-Asia Challenge 2009 dubbed as "NBA Generations vs. PBA All-Stars" held last September 11, 2009 at the Araneta Coliseum. The NBA Generations team featured NBA legends Dominique Wilkins
Dominique Wilkins
Jacques Dominique Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player who primarily played for the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA...
, Tim Hardaway
Tim Hardaway
Timothy Duane "Tim" Hardaway is a retired American basketball player who played in the National Basketball Association and who in his prime was one of the league's best point guards...
, Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac
Vlade Divac is a retired Yugoslav and Serbian professional basketball player who spent most of his career in the NBA. At , he played center and was known for his passing skills...
and Robert Horry
Robert Horry
Robert Keith Horry Jr. is a retired American basketball player and current sports commentator. He played 16 seasons in the National Basketball Association , winning seven championships, the most of any player not to have played on the 1960s Boston Celtics...
and coached by NBA six-time MVP and Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Making up the PBA All-Stars line-up were PBA legends Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Patrimonio
Alvin Vergara Patrimonio , nicknamed "The Captain" and "Captain Lionheart" is a retired Filipino professional basketball player from the Philippine Basketball Association and is the current team manager of his former team, the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants.Patrimonio holds several PBA records...
, Allan Caidic
Allan Caidic
Alan Vito Flores Caidic is a retired professional basketball player from the Philippines and is currently an assistant coach of the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the PBA...
, Ronnie Magsanoc
Ronnie Magsanoc
Ronald "Ronnie" Magsanoc is a former Filipino professional basketball point guard. He was the former assistant coach of the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants and a color commentator for the television coverage of the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Benjie Paras
Benjie Paras
Venancio Johnson Paras, Jr. , better known as Benjie Paras, is a Filipino professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association turned actor. He is the only PBA player to win both Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player honors, in a single season...
and Kenneth Duremdes
Kenneth Duremdes
Kenneth Duremdes is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Powerade Tigers...
and active players Santos, Wynne Arboleda
Wynne Arboleda
Wynne Arboleda is a Filipino basketball player playing professionally for the Barako Bull Energy in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Japeth Aguilar
Japeth Aguilar
Japeth Paul C. Aguilar , better known as Japeth Aguilar born in Pampanga, Philippines, is a Filipino basketball player. He recently played for Smart Gilas, and will play for the Talk N Text Tropang Texters in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Dondon Hontiveros
Dondon Hontiveros
Donaldo "Dondon" Hontiveros is a Filipino professional basketball player actively playing for the Petron Blaze Boosters in the Philippine Basketball Association. He has a son named Isaiah with singer and fellow Cebu native Gail Blanco.A devout Christian, Hontiveros studied and honed his basketball...
, Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes
Jay-R Reyes is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Alaska Aces.-Rain or Shine:...
, Marc Pingris
Marc Pingris
Jean Marc Pingris, Jr. is a Filipino professional basketball player in the PBA for the B-Meg Llamados. He is a versatile 6-foot-5 forward-center that can post up and shoot mid-range jumpshots. He is half-French and half-Filipino...
, Enrico Villanueva
Enrico Villanueva
Jose Enrico P. Villanueva , better known simply as Enrico Villanueva, and by the nicknames Raging Bull and E-Vill, is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association...
, Sonny Thoss
Sonny Thoss
Joachim Gunther Thoss, better known as Sonny Thoss, is a Filipino-Papua New Guinean professional basketball player of the Philippine Basketball Association in the Philippines playing for the Alaska Aces...
, Willie Miller
Willie Miller
William Ferguson Miller, MBE is a former professional football player who made a club record 558 league appearances for Aberdeen. He is currently the club's Director of Football...
and Joseph Yeo
Joseph Yeo
Joseph Henry L. Yeo , better known as Joseph Yeo, is a Filipino-Chinese professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association who currently plays for the Petron Blaze Boosters...
. The NBA Generations defeated the PBA All-Stars 109-86 behind the efforts of Wilkins (28 points, 5 rebounds, 2 steals) and Horry (10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists). The PBA All-Stars were led by Caidic, Miller and Hontiveros with 15, 14 and 10 points, respectively while Santos scored 5 points.
Santos was again selected to play in the NBA-Asia Challenge 2010 where the two teams, Red and White, were composed of a mixture of NBA and PBA legends as well as NBA D-Leaguers and active PBA players. Making up the Red team were NBA legends Glen Rice
Glen Rice
Glen Anthony Rice is a retired American professional basketball player who played in the NBA. The 6'8" tall Rice was a three-time NBA All-Star guard/forward, ranking 11th in NBA history with 1,559 three-point field goals made during his 15-year career. As a player, Rice won an NCAA Men's Division...
and Gary Payton
Gary Payton
Gary Dwayne Payton is a former American professional basketball point guard. He is best known for his 13-year tenure with the Seattle SuperSonics, and holds Seattle franchise records in points, assists, and steals...
, D-leaguers Darnell Lazare and Chris McCray
Chris McCray
Chris McCray is an American professional basketball player. He formerly played for the Milwaukee Bucks of the NBA and is a current member of the Sioux Falls Skyforce squad....
reinforced by PBA legends Caidic, Vergel Meneses
Vergel Meneses
Vergel Meneses - nicknamed "The Aerial Voyager" - is a retired Filipino professional basketball player who last played for the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was also a former PBA Most Valuable Player and a many-time member of the Philippine National team...
, Atoy Co
Atoy Co
Fortunato Co, Jr., better known as Atoy Co, is a former Philippine Basketball Association basketball player and actor who was part of the fabled Crispa Redmanizers ballclub that won two Grand Slams, in 1976 and 1983. He won the Most Valuable Player award, in 1979 and a 9-time Mythical First...
and active players like Santos, Rico Maierhofer
Rico Maierhofer
Paul Rico Maierhofer is a Filipino-Austrian professional basketball player who will play for the Barangay Ginebra Kings in the Philippine Basketball Association. He was drafted 2nd overall by the Purefoods Tender Juicy Giants in 2009....
and LA Tenorio
LA Tenorio
Lewis Alfred V. Tenorio , better known as L.A. Tenorio, is a Filipino professional basketball point guard who currently plays for the Alaska Aces in the Philippine Basketball Association...
while the White team was composed of NBA legends Chris Webber
Chris Webber
Mayce Edward Christopher "Chris" Webber, III , nicknamed C-Webb, is a retired American professional basketball player. He is a five-time NBA All-Star, a former All-NBA First Teamer, a former NBA Rookie of the Year, and a former #1 overall NBA Draftee...
and Mitch Richmond
Mitch Richmond
Mitchell James "Mitch" Richmond is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. He played collegiately at Kansas State University. He was a 6-time NBA All-Star, a 5-time All-NBA Team member and a former NBA Rookie of the Year...
with help from D-leaguers Richie Frahm
Richie Frahm
Richie Frahm is an American professional basketball player.After he went undrafted following a college career at Gonzaga University and brief overseas stints, among others in the Philippine Basketball Association, and in Turkey, the 6'5" shooting guard signed with the Seattle SuperSonics in 2003,...
, who was also a former PBA import, and Mark Tyndale and PBA legends Paras, Magsanoc, Patrimonio and active players Hontiveros and Ronald Tubid
Ronald Tubid
Ronald Tubid is a Filipino professional basketball player in the Philippine Basketball Association for the Barangay Ginebra Kings...
. Santos fired 16 points along with Meneses as they supported Caidic who scored 54 points including 14 3-point shots as the Red team walloped the White team 177-167..
UAAP
- 1-Time UAAP Rookie of the Year
- 65th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 65UAAP Season 65 is the 2002-2003 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by National University. The season opened on July 13, 2002.-Elimination round:Host team in boldface.-Bracket:-Juniors' Division:...
- 65th UAAP season
- 2-Time UAAP Most Valuable Player
- 67th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 67UAAP Season 67 is the 2004-2005 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by De La Salle University-Manila. The season opened on July 10, 2004-Elimination round:Host team in boldface.-Bracket:...
- 68th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 68UAAP Season 68 is the 2005-2006 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Several events were held, the most prominent was the basketball tournament...
- 67th UAAP season
- 2-Time UAAP Finals Most Valuable Player
- 66th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 66UAAP Season 66 is the 2003-2004 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University...
- 68th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 68UAAP Season 68 is the 2005-2006 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Several events were held, the most prominent was the basketball tournament...
- 66th UAAP season
- 3-Time Mythical First Five Member
- 66th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 66UAAP Season 66 is the 2003-2004 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by the Ateneo de Manila University...
- 67th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 67UAAP Season 67 is the 2004-2005 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines, which was hosted by De La Salle University-Manila. The season opened on July 10, 2004-Elimination round:Host team in boldface.-Bracket:...
- 68th UAAP seasonUAAP Season 68UAAP Season 68 is the 2005-2006 season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines. Several events were held, the most prominent was the basketball tournament...
- 66th UAAP season
Philippine Basketball League
- 1-Time PBL Most Valuable Player
- 2004 PBL Unity Cup
- 1-Time PBL Mythical First Team Member
- 2004 PBL Unity Cup
- 1-Time PBL Mythical Second Team Member
- 2006 PBL Unity Cup
Philippine Basketball Association
- 4-Time PBA Mythical First Team Member
- 2007-2008 PBA Season
- 2008-2009 PBA Season
- 2009-2010 PBA Season
- 2010-2011 PBA Season
- 5-Time PBA All Defensive Team Member
- 2006-2007 PBA Season
- 2007-2008 PBA Season
- 2008-2009 PBA Season
- 2009-2010 PBA Season
- 2010-2011 PBA Season
- 4-Time PBA All-Star
- 2007-2008 PBA Season
- 2008-2009 PBA Season
- 2009-2010 PBA Season
- 2010-2011 PBA Season
- 2-Time PBA Defensive Player of the Year
- 2007-2008 PBA Season
- 2010-2011 PBA Season
- 2-Time PBA Mythical Second Team Member
- 2006-2007 PBA Season
- 2010-2011 PBA Season
- 1-Time Best Player of the Conference
- 2010-2011 Governor's Cup
- 1-time PBA Finals MVP
- 2011 Governors Cup