Back in the shadows

Back to basics
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Since it's the holidays and most families are agog over the ongoing Metro Manila Film Festival, we would like to ask you one question: what makes for a great movie hero?

Is it the actor? Or is it the people who allow him to shine brightest? Sometimes it is the female lead who adds depth to the hero, others, it is the villain-- sometimes, it is the sidekick or supporting actor who helps establish the hero and hides his flaws.

Arwind Santos, former PBA Most Valuable Player, is not fit to take the lead. He posts eye-popping, stat-stuffing numbers, but as history would suggest it does not always end up with wins or titles. Hell, he's not even the guy his own fans, San Miguel Beermen fans, would want taking the last shot (do not even try to contest this now known fact).

He is however, an awesome Best Supporting Actor: working in the shadows, doing what is necessary to help make the hero even more heroic, and the film, even better. Dennis Padilla to Robin Padilla. Bayani Agbayani to Cesar Montano. Sorry for having named comedians, as we are not big on serious local drama flicks. Oh, there's one more-- yung bespren ni Popoy sa One More Chance.
Junemar Fajardo, for the time being and heading into the future, is San Miguel's leading man of choice. He is unmatched and has no equals, even when there seems to be more guys standing over 6"8 these days than in the last decade. Arwind Santos, by all accounts, is his Best Supporting Actor.

This PBA Philippine Cup in 35 minutes per game, Santos has posted norms of 16 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block and 1 assist.

He has posted the same numbers before, but looked erratic and inefficient-- with people even claiming that he was just out there looking for his own stats, win or lose. Nowadays, Santos has seamlessly fit right beside Fajardo as the "clean up" guy. While he still has a knack for calling his own number and taking long, flat-footed threes, he no longer forces the action or tries to do too much on the floor.

His bread and butter has always been defense first, offensive rebounding second, and all the showtime wannabe Michael Jordan exploits third. In that order.

And you know what? This "shadowy" role is one that fits him best.

While all eyes are glued on Fajardo and the more "stellar" crew of Chris Lutz, Marcio Lassiter and Alex Cabagnot (because of their collective dribble game complemented by their good looks), Santos has found a niche in head coach Leo Austria's gameplan which is one of the biggest reasons why the team is back in the PBA Finals since Ato Agustin was coaching them as Petron.

He's back to playing like that 6"4 skinny freak of an athlete in Morayta-- quietly hustling for rebounds, locking guys down and when he feels like shooting a three, follows it for the possible offensive rebound and putback.

The superstar attitude, no hustle all stats mentality and the #larongmayaman tag-- they no longer fit the Arwind Santos of today. Maybe releasing a music video was the best thing to have happened to him, that since he has that non-court thing to attend to, he can concentrate on basketball when he's on court.

And as a Lastikman/Spiderman fan, we'd have it no other way.

Even if he's not the leading man.