Chris Ross is proud to see how far Meralco has come now that his former team is heading for its first-ever PBA Philippine Cup Finals appearance.
The Bolts have arranged a best-of-seven bout against his repeat-seeking Beermen and the decorated guard can’t help but feel glad to be meeting the franchise – where he served as one of its pioneering members – in the Big Dance.
“I actually played in Meralco’s first game in the PBA. So, it’s kind of a full-circle moment for me,” he said during the pre-Finals press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria in Pasig on Monday.
“It’s kind of a proud moment for me that they were able to reach this. They’ve come a long way,” he furthered.
Ross was among the players that Meralco kept when the latter bought the Sta. Lucia franchise back in 2010. It was the electric distribution company’s return to basketball after previously playing in the MICAA.
It was with the Bolts where the third overall pick of the 2009 Rookie Draft by Coca-Cola showed glimpses of the player he has become.
“Cliff was my rookie, and Reynel Hugnatan was my teammate; [now] he’s on the coaching staff … some of the ball boys are still there,” recalled the Texas-native, who helped the team to its breakthrough semis trip in the 2012 Governors’ Cup.
His stint with the MVP-owned ball club would come to a close in 2013, when he was shipped to GlobalPort in a multi-player deal centered on Gary David.
The Batang Pier, shortly after, traded him to Petron, then the banner being carried by San Miguel, in exchange for Denok Miranda.
Ross has since been with the Beermen, where he has enjoyed tremendous success, including 10 league championships, two Finals MVPs, and two PBA Press Corps Defensive Player of the Year honors, to name a few.
Yet the 39-year-old playing deputy remains to have a soft spot for Meralco, who in the past few years has grown into a legitimate contender.
“Such a cool feeling,” he said. “Meralco gave me a chance to show that I can play in the PBA. They kinda gave me the ball and said, ‘Do your thing.’
“I’m forever grateful to them for the opportunity to show what I can do.”
