“That’s all it’s about in the playoffs, right? Win by any means — ugly win, big win, doesn’t matter. Just win.”
That is what Chris Ross declared Monday night, after the San Miguel Beermen overcame a gritty Star Hotshots side to come out as winners, 77-76, and level their best-of-five semifinal series to 1-1 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
“They’re a good team, and I think they won like seven or eight straight, so we knew they would fight back but we were able to weather the storm,” the eight year league veteran said.
SMB had the upper hand early in the bout, that even saw them lead by as much as 16 in the third canto, but they squandered it to the Hotshots, who made a furious comeback to snatch the lead, 60-58, at the end of three.
“It was kind of on me as the point guard and as the leader that we came out like that in the third quarter,” rued the 32-year-old point guard, owning up to the dismal performance his side displayed in that frame.
“But we were able to right the ship.”
Ross was correct. The Beermen were able to right their ship. They regained their bearings in the payoff period, and he was instrumental down the stretch — his pass to Arwind Santos led to a dagger triple, 77-74, a lead they hung on to.
But for the four-time champion — who finished with 10 points, four dimes, and two steals, while withstanding all the heckling he received from Hotshots fans’ all through out the game — the true magic for San Miguel was their guard play.
“After the last game, me, Marcio [Lassiter] and Alex [Cabagnot] felt that if we play better, we would win,” said the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, as his ever-reliable backcourt partners supplied 13 and 11 markers, respectively.
“So we took the challenge and we all played better than we did last game, and we ended up getting the win.”
