(PBA image)
San Miguel veteran Chris Ross isn’t losing sleep over the Beermen’s missed opportunity to close out the PBA Philippine Cup Finals after a disappointing Game 5 loss to TNT Tropang Giga, 86-78.
Despite the setback, Ross remains confident. With the series still leaning in San Miguel’s favor at 3-2, the team has two chances left to seal the deal—and the 40-year-old guard believes they’ll get it done.
“It’s a series,” Ross said after the game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. “They’re a championship team, and we expected them to fight. But we’ll make our adjustments, put our best foot forward, and be ready for Game 6.”
That next opportunity comes Friday at the Philsports Arena, where Ross hopes the Beermen bring the kind of killer instinct that was clearly missing in their Game 5 performance.
San Miguel shot just 32 percent from the field and was visibly out of rhythm throughout the night. TNT, missing injured big man Poy Erram (meniscus tear), still managed to control key areas of the game. The Tropang Giga narrowly won the battle of the boards, 49-48, but were far more efficient in ball movement and hustle—dishing out 19 assists to San Miguel’s 11, dominating second chance points 20-12, and edging them in points in the paint, 36-34.
Ross gave credit where it was due.
“They played a good game, and we didn’t,” he admitted. “They did what they were supposed to do—we didn’t execute like we normally do.”
But this is far from uncharted territory for Ross or the San Miguel franchise. With multiple championships under their belt, the Beermen are no strangers to bouncing back after tough losses. Ross, who tallied six points, six rebounds, two assists, and two steals in the loss, is drawing from that experience.
“We’ve always found ways to recover after a loss,” he said. “Friday’s going to be no different.”
The Beermen are aiming to wrap up the series and claim yet another title. Still, Ross understands that the margin for error shrinks with each passing game.
“Hopefully, we end it on Friday,” he said. “But if not, then we go again on Sunday. The important thing is, we’ve still got the upper hand. Now we just have to play better.”
San Miguel’s championship mettle will be tested once more—but Ross isn’t rattled. If anything, the Game 5 stumble may have just refueled their fire.