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Santos thrilled to have Millsap back in the fold with SMB

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/news-special1/sports/9/19/millsap-santos-091916.jpg"/><figcaption><div class="embed-desc">Elijah Millsap (7) had an immediate impact for the San Miguel Beermen. Photo courtesy of the PBA Media Bureau</div></figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines – Elijah Millsap made a winning return to the PBA as he powered the San Miguel Beermen to a 107-101 win over the Blackwater Elite last Sunday, and Arwind Santos for one could not be happier to have the returning import back in the fold.Millsap was part of the San Miguel team – then known as the Petron Blaze Boosters – that lost to the Star Hotshots in a seven-game series for the 2013 PBA Governors&#x27; Cup championship.Three years later, he returns as SMB&#x27;s third import of the conference, following Mike Singletary and Arizona Reid. This time around, Santos is hopeful that Millsap will be able to achieve what he failed to do in 2013.(READ: <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/basketball/news/2016/09/18/beermen-welcome-back-millsap-strong-win-blackwater-15649">Beermen welcome back Millsap with strong win over Blackwater</a>)&quot;Sobrang na-miss ko [si Elijah],&quot; Santos said in a televised interview after SMB&#x27;s close win over the Elite on Sunday in Biñan, Laguna. &quot;Parang kailan lang, magkasama kami.&quot;&quot;Sabi ko nga sa kanya, &#x27;yung dati, ibang storya na hindi namin nakuha,&quot; he added. &quot;Ngayon, may chance ulit kami, at sana makuha namin.&quot;(&quot;I missed Elijah. I told him, what happened before was a different story, when we didn&#x27;t win the title. Now, we have another chance, and hopefully we can get it.&quot;)In his first game back, Millsap tallied 25 points, 14 rebounds, and four assists, helping the Beermen end the conference with an 8-3 record that proved good enough to secure the second seed, after TNT KaTropa beat Ginebra in the second game of the double-header.The Beermen are set to face off against the NLEX Road Warriors in the quarterfinals, where they will have a twice-to-beat advantage.Santos pronounced his team ready to compete in the playoffs, though he does see the need for improvement on the defensive end.&quot;Siguro, No. 1, &#x27;yung one-on-one defense namin,&quot; said Santos of the improvements needed to be made by San Miguel. &quot;Kasi naniniwala ako na doon papasok &#x27;yung team defense eh, kailangan one-on-one defense muna.&quot;&quot;Tapos, &#x27;yung conditioning, kailangan idagdag namin &#x27;yun, at &#x27;yung pagiging consistent sa umpisa hanggang matapos,&quot; he added.(&quot;We need to improve our one-on-one defense, because that will lead to better team defense. We also need to improve our conditioning, and be consistent from start to finish.&quot;)Millsap was in agreement, telling <a href="http://pba.inquirer.net/76209/elijah-millsap-san-miguel-beermen-smb-pba-2016-governors-cup">PBA.ph</a> that the Beermen are ready for the playoffs.&quot;We just gotta do better at the defensive end,&quot; he said. &quot;It&#x27;s all good, we just have to straighten things out for the playoffs and play the way we want to play.&quot;(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Elijah Millsap made a winning return to the PBA as he powered the San Miguel Beermen to a 107-101 win over the Blackwater Elite last Sunday, and Arwind Santos for one could not be happier to have the returning import back in the fold.

Elijah Millsap made a winning return to the PBA as he powered the San Miguel Beermen to a 107-101 win over the Blackwater Elite last Sunday, and Arwind Santos for one could not be happier to have the returning import back in the fold.