Former San Miguel star Arwind Santos. Photo by Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.

MANILA —San Miguel has immortalized one of the greatest Beermen to ever play for the winningest franchise of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA).

The perennial powerhouse of the PBA honored former superstar Arwind Santos on Wednesday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City by retiring his iconic No. 29 jersey which he wore while giving the SMB franchise nine of their 29 — a mere coincidence — total league titles.

Santos was acquired by San Miguel in 2009 via a trade with the now-defunct Burger King Whoppers in exchange for a package of Marc Pingris, Ken Bono, and a draft pick, and it was with the Beermen wherein he made himself one of the PBA's best players.

It was two years later when Arwind won his first title with the squad, as Santos, together with Alex Cabagnot, Danny Ildefonso, and import Anthony Grundy defeated the Talk 'N Text Tropang Texters in seven games during the 2011 PBA Governors' Cup Finals.

Santos and Cabagnot, together with the return of the 'San Miguel Beermen' name, then went on to dominate Philippine basketball with the help of June Mar Fajardo, Chris Ross, and Marcio Lassiter.

SMB's "Death Five" went on to wreak havoc in the league as they won numerous championships in the latter part of the 2010s.

San Miguel’s “Death Five” with head coach Leo Austria. Photo by Rom Anzures, ABS-CBN News.

Dubbed as "The Spider-Man" due to his trademark dunk wherein he would plant his feet on the backboard and his high-flying prowess on both ends of the court, Santos also received numerous individual awards with San Miguel.

He was the PBA's Most Valuable Player in 2013, and also earned two Finals MVP plums, two Best Player of the Conference awards, 12 All-Star selections, and 10 First Mythical Team selections.

Unfortunately, his time with the Beermen and the Death Five ended in November 2021 as he was traded for NorthPort Batang Pier’s Vic Manuel in a straight trade.

READ: San Miguel sends Arwind Santos to NorthPort, acquires Vic Manuel

READ: SMB coach Austria explains Arwind Santos trade - 'We need some changes'

He played for NorthPort until 2023, but Santos made his exit from the PBA later that year as he went on to play for the Pampanga Giant Lanterns in the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL).

Santos is the seventh player whose jersey number was retired by San Miguel, following four-time MVP Ramon Fernandez, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Yves Dignadice, Olsen Racela, and the late Samboy Lim.