Chris Ross could soon be one of the PBA’s top five all-time steals leaders following another impressive defensive showing in San Miguel’s conquest of the erstwhile-unbeaten TNT in 2021 Honda Philippine Cup action, Wednesday.
The 36-year-old guard finished with a game-high six steals in the Beermen’s dominant 83-67 triumph. He is just two steals away from dislodging Dindo Pumaren, according to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III.
Ross now has 901 steals to his name – just below the 902 of the great floor general, who played for 14 seasons before retiring in 2002.
Topping the list is Johnny Abarrientos with 1,358, then all-time greats Ramon Fernandez (1,302), Bernie Fabiosa (1,235), and Sonny Jaworski (937).
“That’s what we’re expecting from him,” said head coach Leo Austria moments after the match at the DHVSU Gym in Bacolor, Pampanga.
Even more impressive, Ross had all those steals in the first half. This is the most in a half since Ryan Reyes had eight in the second half of TNT’s Game Five duel with Powerade in the 2012 Philippine Cup Finals.
There, Reyes went on to finish with a league all-time record 10 steals to help the Texters earn the title-clinching 110-101 victory.
“That’s one of the things na makikita mo kay Chris Ross, ‘yung kanyang energy sa defense. I’m happy for him dahil he was able to perform,” said Austria, as Ross also had eight rebounds, four assists, and three points.
Such a performance couldn’t have come at a better time for SMB, especially after suffering a shock defeat in the hands of Terrafirma last week.
Austria definitely felt satisfied with how his players showed up with so much urgency to bounce back, as exemplified by Ross.
“That loss was a wake-up call para sa amin. It happened na kalaban namin ngayon ay Talk ‘N Text and this was a big game for us,” he said.
“I’m thankful for the players because ‘yung sense or urgency, nandoon.”
