Dondon Hontiveros of San Miguel Beer (right) drives past the 6-foot-8 Alex Crisano (left) of Barako Bull during their PBA game Sunday night at the Araneta Coliseum. The Beermen won, 104-89. (Photo by ALI VICOY)

Games Wednesday (Araneta Coliseum)
5 p.m. — Burger King vs Coca-Cola
7:30 p.m. — Sta. Lucia vs Ginebra

San Miguel Beer just did the right thing in getting Arwind Santos.

Nobody knows how much Santos is receiving monthly, but for sure, San Miguel officials are happy with what the former Far Eastern University star is doing for the team right now.

The prolific forward exploded with a career-best 33 points to help power the Beermen to their sixth straight victory via a 104-89 win against the Barako Bull Energy Boosters in the KFC-PBA Philippine Cup last night at the Araneta Coliseum.

Santos shot 13-of-18 from the field with eight rebounds, six assists and two shot blocks in 33 minutes of play. His previous high was 32 points which established two seasons ago in this same conference when he was still with Burger King (formerly Air21).

The win improved San Miguel Beer’s win-loss record to 6-2, matching the longest winning run this all-Filipino conference set by erstwhile unbeaten Alaska, which had a 6-0 start before Rain or Shine ended it with an 81-86 beating last Friday.

The Beermen also drew big games from Dondon Hontiveros and Denok Miranda who chipped in 21 and 17 markers, respectively.

In the second game, rookie Rico Maierhofer finished with double-double 15 points and 11 rebounds as Purefoods downed Rain or Shine, 103-69. The Giants improved to 4-3, while the Elasto Painters dropped to 1-7.

“That’s something special,” said San Miguel coach Tanquicen said of the 6-foot-3 Santos’ big game.

“But the good thing about it, as a coach, he still have room for improvements. And he’s doing it now, the other aspects of the game, knowledge of the game.  Everything is potential, with his potential ang ganda na ng pinakikita niya,” Tanquincen added.

Santos connived with Miranda – his teammate at FEU and during their days in the PBL – in one big spurt after another to finally pull away for good from the fighting Barako squad.

The scores:
First Game
SAN MIGUEL 104 — Santos 33, Hontiveros 21, Miranda 17, Cortez 10, Pennisi 5, Pena 5, Villanueva 4, Tugade 4, Eman 3, Custodio 2, Racela 0, Calaguio 0.
BARAKO 89 — Aljamal 21, Hubalde 20, Menor 18, Najorda 10, Dimaunahan 10, Sta. Maria 5, Alonzo 2, Crisano 2, Lao 1, Viray 0, Membrere 0, Belano 0.
Quarters: 31-14, 49-45, 72-69, 104-89.

Second Game
PUREFOODS 103 — Maierhofer 15, Yap J. 14, Allado 14, Raymundo 13, Artadi 9, Simon 9, Timberlake 8, Canaleta 7, Pingris 7, Salvador 4, Yap R. 3, Reavis 0.
RAIN OR SHINE 69 — Araña 20, Norwood 13, Hrabak 11, Mercado 9, Chan 6, Cruz 5, Arellano 2, Reyes 2, Dulay 1, Ibanes 0, Laure 0, Telan 0.
Quarters: 24-17, 47-31, 71-52, 103-69.