PBA: San Miguel retires Arwind Santos’ jersey no. 29

The jersey no. 29 has been immortalized in the annals of San Miguel.

This, after the Beermen retired Arwind Santos’ legendary jersey number 29 during a halftime ceremony in San Miguel’s elimination round clash against Blackwater on Wednesday at the Philsports Arena. 

The 6-foot-4 high-leaping forward carved his name wearing a San Miguel uniform from 2009 to 2021, helping the squad capture nine PBA titles while also grabbing the MVP plum in 2013. 

Part of the famed ‘Death Five,’ alongside June Mar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Ross, and Alex Cabagnot, Santos was among the best players to ever play for the club as he was even named to the league’s 40 Greatest Players. 

Santos last wore an SMB jersey in 2021 before he got traded to NorthPort in exchange for Vic Manuel. 

“Hindi ko po alam kung saan ako mag-uumpisa pero gusto kong pasalamatan ‘yung mga taong talagang laging nandiyan, ‘yung mga nagmamahal sa akin lalo na ang aking pamilya,” Santos said in his speech.

(I don’t know how I would start but I would like to thank everyone who were always there, those who love me and my family.)

Ross, who won eight titles with Santos, said: “He came from pretty much nothing and he’s earned everything he got and I felt that it’s the embodiment of this retirement right here.”

—Bea Micaller/JKC, GMA Integrated News