Chris Ross continues to influence games even at his age after putting on a defensive masterclass on Sunday night, which ultimately enabled San Miguel to complete another PBA Philippine Cup back-to-back at the expense of TNT.
The 40-year-old floor general put the clamps on Calvin Oftana, and his efforts helped squash the opposition’s comeback attempt. That let the team finish the best-of-7 series in six games and retain their hold on the coveted throne.
“When you’re in the playoffs, I feel like veterans win the game,” he told reporters moments after the 92-77 victory at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“I’ve been in hundreds of situations. So, I feel like I can give my team a really good chance to win, as long as I’m out there healthy and playing to the best of my abilities,” the two-time PBA Press Corps Defensive Player of the Year added.
Oftana almost single-handedly carried the Tropang 5G back into the game from down a 23-7 deficit, firing 28 points in the first three quarters.
He even knocked down a triple with less than seven minutes remaining in the third to cut the gap to six. Then his crew would take the lead at 68-66 late in the same frame before the Beermen put things back in order.
But that also proved to be his last basket of the match, as he went scoreless in the deciding period, with Ross’ defense a reason behind that.
(C) PBA Images
It was a commendable night all in all for the seven-time All-Defensive Team member, as he also contributed on offense. Ross finished with nine points on top of four rebounds, five assists, and four of San Miguel’s nine steals in the victory.
“Age is nothing but a number. Like LeBron said the other day, he’s in a battle with Father Time, and he takes it personally. That’s my mantra right now: Taking it personal,” he said, quoting the NBA icon from a recent interview.
Ross is now celebrating his 12th league championship, although he’s much happier for his SMB teammates, who have won theirs for the first time.
“Yeah, it doesn’t. It doesn’t get old,” he said. “This is an amazing feeling. Like I always say, it feels good for me to win, but then, it feels better for guys like Chris Miller … and the guys that are first-timers. That’s always a better feeling.
“Or, even the Juamis [Tiongson] or JMs [Calma], and Kris Rosales, Andreas [Cahilig], they get another one on their tab. That’s what I do it for,” he added.
“And my son, being able to witness another one. It’s a really good feeling.”
With the golden season’s first conference in the books, Ross is looking forward to resting his banged-up body to be as fresh as he can be for the Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup, where the team is hoping to return to the playoffs.
“I need to rest, man,” he said. “My legs are tired, my Achilles is sore. I was out there on one leg.
“Hopefully, I get some good rest and come back in the next conference healthy.”
