(PBA image)
Chris Ross had every reason to feel satisfied after San Miguel Beer carved out a hard-earned 95–89 victory over TNT in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals. Instead, the veteran guard cut a serious figure, reflecting the mindset that has long defined the Beermen’s championship DNA.
While the win at the Mall of Asia Arena nudged San Miguel closer to another title, Ross made it clear that nothing has been accomplished yet. For him, the scoreboard only tells part of the story, and experience has taught him how quickly momentum can swing in a finals series.
“It’s a race to four. We haven’t done anything yet,” Ross said, summing up the no-nonsense tone inside the San Miguel camp.
Despite grabbing a crucial edge in the series, Ross stressed that the Beermen’s emotional state remains unchanged from the opening game. The focus, he said, is not on celebrating a single win but on maintaining discipline and urgency every time they step on the floor.
“We’re happy after this win but it’s still the same emotions we had in Game 1. We need to bounce back, we take the same approach every game,” he added.
Ross’ leadership resonated even more given his limited contribution on the stat sheet. Battling a sore Achilles, the defensive specialist finished scoreless, collecting just two rebounds, two assists, and a steal. Yet his presence and voice remained invaluable, especially during tense moments when poise mattered more than points.
San Miguel found its offense elsewhere, with CJ Perez rising to the occasion when it mattered most. Perez drilled seven of the Beermen’s final nine points to close out the Tropang 5G, ending the night with 20 points in a clutch performance that underscored his growing importance in the finals.
As usual, June Mar Fajardo anchored the Beermen with authority inside. The eight-time MVP delivered another punishing double-double, tallying 16 points and a staggering 27 rebounds to control the paint and tilt the battle of physicality in San Miguel’s favor.
With a 2–1 series lead in hand, the Beermen are now on the verge of a pivotal advantage. Still, Ross insists that complacency has no place in a championship series. San Miguel’s composure and focus will be tested once more in Game 4 on Wednesday at the same venue, where the Beermen aim to move one step closer to the title while keeping their feet firmly on the ground.