Arwind Santos of the San Miguel Beermen (photo by Peter Paul Baltazar)
By Ernest Hernandez
Renaldo Balkman is back in town to play for Tanduay Alab Pilipinas though most are eager to see when he would reach out to his former teammate, Arwind Santos of the San Miguel Beermen.
Both teamed up in 2013 for the Petron Blaze Boosters until an unfortunate incident ended it all. This is the incident when Balkman put his hands on Santos – the celebrated choking incident.
Both players settled their differences though Balkman got the biggest damage - a lifetime ban in the PBA.
Thanks to Jimmy Alapag, Balkman got a new lease on life playing alongside Justin Brownlee for Alab Pilipinas.
Also, Balkman mentioned before that he wanted to see his former teammate and catch.
“Arwind, I’m looking for you man. If you get this message, man - I’m down here. Now you know that one day we’d go out for lunch or dinner, anything that you want to do. Let’s talk,” said Balkman last time out.
Expressing his wish to go back to the PBA and his ban being uplifted by the incoming PBA commissioner, Balkman hopes that his Alab stint will be the key.
Santos had already voiced out, wanting Balkman to return to the PBA. "Spider-Man" wanted him to suit up for the Beermen again.
“Tapos na yun. Siguro wala na ako masyadong comment dyan kasi ‘OK’ naman kami ni Balkman. After niya umalis dito, sinuportahan naming siya. Sabi ko nga, 'Everybody deserves a second chance,'” Santos said.
In response Balkman’s call out, Santos has this to say: “OK lang sa akin. Tawagan lang niya ako.”