“HE IS the epitome of an Atenean.”

These were the telling words used by Ateneo legend LA Tenorio to describe his beloved friend, teacher, and mentor, Arben Santos. Despite being an unknown figure to those outside of Ateneo’s innermost circles, Santos embodied the true values of a Blue Eagle, becoming the anchor for much of Ateneo’s glory and success.

A Hall of Famer in his own right, Santos displayed passion, dedication, and hard work for the Blue and White and its rich sporting history. While his presence and companionship have been greatly missed after his unfortunate passing last July 2024, his lasting legacy calls for the time to celebrate a life embedded in the pages of Philippine sports history.

Landing in the nest

Santos’ homestay at the Ateneo dates back to the 1960s during the University’s years in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Showing multifaceted excellence, the Blue Eagle dominated collegiate sports as a triple athlete in athletics, football, and basketball.

During this time, the post-war NCAA saw participation from Letran, Mapúa, San Beda, Jose Rizal College, and recognized rival La Salle. This competition ensemble formed what is now known as the league’s “Old-Timer Six Era.”

This notable time witnessed how Santos claimed kingship after a legendary display of skill in the iconic 1968 NCAA Men’s Football Finals, where the Santos-led Blue Booters dethroned archnemesis La Salle on the pitch to seal the championship. This feat, out of many, marked the start of his grand influence to bring Ateneo sports toward its zenith.

Eagle-eyed

When Santos’ collegiate years came to an end, his successful ventures into other businesses began. Still, the crawling passion of discipline and continuity remained in his veins. Eventually, the turn of the century saw Santos rejoin Ateneo in the role of building a foundation that would shape the Philippine sports landscape until today.

In the wake of BJ Manalo’s transfer and the Blue and White’s multiple Final Four exits, Santos took matters into his own hands and helped rebuild the Ateneo basketball program. An official basketball committee was then formed, with the engine also being run behind the scenes by the passionate Fr. Nemesio “Nemy” Que, SJ. With a revitalized system in place, Santos set out to steer the ship of the University’s beloved basketball team back on course after years of struggles throughout the 1990s.

According to Tenorio, a principal element of this newfound program was its strict emphasis on education. It was a promise to not only bring success to the Blue Eagles on the court but to also aid players in triumphantly finishing their studies. This atypical philosophy intrigued many talents into donning the Blue and White, most notably Tenorio himself.

“It was really that moment when they told me… ‘the only thing that we can offer you is really the education and the scholarship.’ That really stuck into my mind, until now,” the all-time great point guard said.

Part of Santos’ Blue Eagle fatherhood ensured the delicate balance between studies and athletics among all members, reflecting the wit of a true Atenean. Tenorio described him as “very student athlete[-like],” where studies came first because basketball can only go so far.

Aside from hitting the books, there were still other standards Santos expected out of his players—demands which Tenorio sourced as a catalyst of his special growth as an athlete even after his collegiate years.

“He’s not asking you to score 30 points or 40 points every game. Ang gusto lang talaga niya makita is the discipline, the humility, and the effort talaga, every game,” Tenorio expounded.

(The only things he wanted to see were the discipline, the humility, and the effort, every game).

This humble yet gritty foundation ushered Ateneo basketball into a golden era, striking gold ten times starting with Tenorio and the Blue Eagles’ University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) championship in 2002.

Down the line, many stars such as Enrico Villanueva, Chris Tiu, and Kiefer Rivena decided to call Loyola Heights home, which could be heavily attributed to the culture built by Santos. The Blue Eagles cherished the fact that they had a figure who was able to care and stand for them—not only as players but as people.

Ultimately, Santos’ success with wooing big names and capturing numerous championships was only part of his legacy—as his greatest impact extended far beyond the court.

The man for others

For most of his life, Santos rendered the second father for generations of younger Blue Eagles; among which was multi-time UAAP champion Ange Kouame. With the motherly care of his wife, Mrs. Celda Santos, the Santos family treated Kouame as their own—fostering a home and a family beyond the walls of Ateneo.

“We shared dinner with his family and his grandchildren, and then he gave me my first shoes as a gift. I’m closest to [his] family, grandchildren, and everything,” the former UAAP Most Valuable Player shared.

Being the squad’s pillar, Santos was always quick to support his players, only being a ring away from imparting such impactful counsel and wisdom when his deemed sons, who called him “Tito Arben,” needed it.

“Siya na talaga ‘yung tumayong tatay ko (He was really the one who stood up as my dad)… Even my parents would say, ‘Kung anong sabihin ni Tito Arben, sundin mo (Whatever Tito Arben says, follow it),’” Tenorio explained.

Undeniably, Santos was the one who saw through the vulnerability and struggles of the hardwood’s most dauntless of individuals. Having seen the more human side of his players, he displayed true empathy numerous times, such as when Kouame was endlessly questioned regarding his eligibility to represent the Philippines.

Santos’ commitment to Ateneo went beyond the court and classroom, conveying his genuine desire to holistically mold the boys into gentlemen who best represent the Blue and White.

Nurturing relationships with ambition and care, “Tito Arben” wanted what was best for his players, whether it be individual awards or a fitting education. Using the term made iconic from those bannering the Blue and White, Santos was the textbook definition of what a “man for others” was.

Although Santos was an instrumental piece of Ateneo’s golden collegiate basketball dynasty, he never chased any recognition and kept his constancy away from the public eye. In his humble demeanor, Santos’ impactful work stayed under the radar, yet these very contributions manifest him as “the face of Ateneo.”

Even beyond his passing, Arben Santos allowed his everlasting mark to gleam through the countless Blue Eagles excelling around the world. With an undeniable history in sports and a heart that bled blue, Santos sported the Ateneo spirit in such humbling yet remarkable fashion—making him deserving of the title of “King of all King Eagles.”