Santos moves over to MPBL

MANILA, Philippines — Veteran Arwind Santos jumped over to the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the MPBL after his contract with PBA club NorthPort expired.

Santos, the 2013 MVP and nine-time PBA champion, reunites with his mentor, Pampanga Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, who also coaches the Giant Lanterns, ahead of the MPBL playoffs.

The 42-year-old Santos, who was born in Angeles, was set for his debut last night in the opener of Pampanga’s best-of-three duel with Marikina at the Bren Guiao Convention Center.

Santos described his Pampanga stint and collaboration with Pineda, who was credited for discovering him during his youth, as “Spider-man Homecoming.”

“Parang kailan lang ng gabayan mo akong tuparin ang aking mga pangarap. At ngayon binigyan ako ng pagkakataon na ibalik at iparamdam ang aking pasasalamat sa aking pangalawang ama, Tatay Delta at sa aking mga Cabalen,” Santos said yesterday.

“Spider-man migbalek ya king tutu nang bale,” he added.

The 6-foot-4 forward joins forces with fellow Cabalen stars Justin Baltazar and Encho Serrano in trying to bring Pampanga all the way to the top.