Former Most Valuable Player Arwind Santos is getting close to a return to help struggling NorthPort in the Governors’ Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
In an interview with Daily Tribune, the 6-foot-4 forward said he is looking at returning from a knee injury on 15 February when the Batang Pier battles his former team — San Miguel Beer — at the Mall of Asia Arena.
“I’m planning to return around 15 February,” Santos said.
“I just want to help as much as possible. I really want to help but I’m not yet 100 percent fit, so it’s really difficult for me to gamble.”
The 41-year-old Santos has yet to see action since the latter part of the Commissioner’s Cup.
In six games with the Batang Pier in the midseason conference, Santos tallied 9.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game.
Now, the Batang Pier badly need his services as they lost four games in a row in the season-ending tournament.
Although they made the playoffs in the Commissioner’s Cup, things are not looking bright for NorthPort as it lost star playmaker Robert Bolick, who decided to pursue a short contract in the T1 League in Taiwan.
Aside from Bolick, who averaged 21 points, 6.3 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game last conference, the Batang Pier also lost promising forward Will Navarro after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.
With Bolick and Navarro out, Santos sees a perfect opportunity to make a return, similar to what James Yap did for Rain or Shine this conference.
“I’m eager to get back but at the same time, I was advised by our physical therapist not to gamble on it,” he said.
“I’m more than willing to get back. Basketball is my passion. I want to play not only for my team, but also for the fans.”