By REYNALD MAGALLON
San Miguel Beer veteran Chris Ross always tried to leave his mark on every title run he had been with the Beermen.
And his 10th championship was no different.
After taking a backseat for SMB’s younger guards in Jericho Cruz, Terrence Romeo and CJ Perez, the 38-year-old playmaker still found a way to ensure that his name wouldn’t be left out in the Beermen’s conquest for their record-extending 29th title.
With the game, and perhaps the championship, on the line, Ross drilled a right corner triple to give his team, which was trailing for almost the entirety of Game 6, the lead for good, 100-99, with 1:27 left in the contest.
Perez followed that up with another triple and Cruz sealed it with a free throw as SMB held on to a title-clinching 104-102 Game 6 win.
Sure, that shot still paled in comparison to his Finals MVP showing in 2016 and 2017 Philippine Cup Finals, especially with how poor he was playing in the series but Ross’ impact couldn’t come at a better time for the Beermen.
“I have total faith in myself. I know when the game is crucial and I know I’m gonna make those shots,” said Ross recalling the clutch triple that triggered the late surge for the Beermen.
Ross had so much confidence in himself that he asked Perez to give him the ball during that crucial possession even when he was not having the best shooting performance in the Finals.
“I told CJ, make the right play, if I’m open give me the ball and he did. I just have so much confidence in myself in those big moments,” he added.
Just a pure display of guts for a man who was shooting miserably from deep in the entirety of the series.
Ross shot a measly 1-of-19 clip from three-point territory over the first five games before firing 3-of-6 in Game 6 – none more crucial than the go-ahead trey in the waning minutes.
“I think I told you guys after the last game, I think I told somebody that I’m gonna make those shots this game. I knew it’s coming. I told my coaches, my players that I’m gonna have a game where I hit some big shots,” said Ross.
“Every finals that I’ve been to, it happens so I know my time is coming and I just have to shoot it with confidence,” added the veteran.
