Even if they have started the season-ending conference with a surprising 2-2 win-loss record, Chris Ross is optimistic that his San Miguel Beermen can still shift it up to a higher gear in the 2018 Governors’ Cup.
The Beermen were expected to deliver right away, owing to their runners-up finish in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup. But that hasn’t been the case so far, as SMB have yet to be complete on the court – no thanks to the injury bug’s bite.
“I always like our chances, man. No matter what kinda team we put out there. We got a championship pedigree and we’re really confident in ourselves so no matter what, our confidence will always be high,” said Ross.
“We’ll go out there and try to win as many games as possible.”
The one bitten the hardest is import AZ Reid, as his right ankle was sprained just last week. He especially struggled in their loss to the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel last Sunday where he only shot 6-of-21 from the floor.
“It’s super unfortunate because we know the type of player AZ is. Last time he was fully healthy with us, we won a championship,” Ross recalled of their 2015 Governors’ Cup title run, where they swept the Alaska Aces in four games.
“But injury’s a part of the game. It’s unfortunate for him but we gotta move on.”
Luckily for them, help is on the way, as the possible replacement for Reid in Kevin Murphy arrived in the Philippines on Thursday morning, and immediately joined San Miguel’s practice hours later at Acropolis in Libis.
Murphy, the 47th pick by the Utah Jazz in the 2012 NBA Draft, came from a 19-hour flight from his hometown in Atlanta, Georgia. He last played in Turkey this year after parting ways with Croatian team Cedevita last January.
“He’s good, he can score, high basketball IQ,” Ross pointed out.“Now it’s just about implementing the system, teaching him the ins and outs of what we do and how we play and getting used to the players, but he seems like a high IQ guy.”
With Murphy’s arrival and with the Beermen slowly getting back the men who got injured and who have recovered from their Gilas Pilipinas duties, Ross hopes that now will be the time where SMB will be turning things around.
“I think going forward we’d be a little more healthy and we have an import in now that’s healthy. June Mar (Fajardo) is starting to get healthier and we’re starting to get our full team back so hopefully we can get on a run,” he said.
“And it’s always.. it’s always about how you’re playing going to the playoffs and in the playoffs, it’s never about how you start. Last conference I think we started 0-3. We still made it to the Finals. Like I said, we have confidence in ourselves,” the six-time champion added.
“And whatever hole we dig ourselves in hopefully we can work our way out of it.”
