FOLLOWING the announcement that Chris McCullough is going to play for Strong Group Athletics in the 43rd William Jones Cup, head coach Charles Tiu made mention of San Miguel guard Chris Ross being instrumental in recruiting the former Beermen import.
“I want to give a shoutout to Chris Ross for assisting in connecting us,” said Tiu.
Ross has been a close friend of McCullough since they became teammates with San Miguel, and even got together recently in the United States. When asked if he was responsible for McCullough joining Strong Group Athletics, Ross deflected the credit.
Charles Tiu reaches out to Chris Ross
“I wouldn’t say I was responsible,” said Ross on the sidelines of Monday’s PBA Finals press conference at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Quezon City. “Charles reached out to me and asked if I thought that Chris would be interested. So I texted right away and I knew he always wanted to come back.”
Ross then created a group chat so that McCullough and Tiu could communicate with each other.
“It was kind of easy. I just made a group chat with me, Charles and Chris. The conversation started and they figured everything out after that,” said the 39-year-old Ross.
McCullough has been outspoken about his desire to come back to the Philippines, and even play for Gilas Pilipinas as a naturalized player since he led San Miguel to the 2019 Commissioner’s Cup title.
Ross said San Miguel has been wanting to bring McCullough back but hasn’t been able to due to his contractual obligations with other teams.
McCullough mostly played in Asia since his stint with San Miguel, playing for Anyang KGC in Korea from 2019 to 2020, Al-Ahli in Bahrain in 2021, New Taipei Kings in 2021-22, and currently with the Formosa Dreamers.
The former Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards player also saw action for Rytas Vilnius in Lithuania in 2020 and Gigantes de Carolina in Puerto Rico in 2021.
“I know we tried to get him a couple of times at San Miguel since he has been under contract,” said Ross.
McCullough still wants to play for Gilas
It goes without saying that McCullough is thrilled with playing in the Philippines again through Strong Group Athletics, which will see action in the Jones Cup from July 13 to 21 in Taipei.
“He is super excited. He’s been wanting to come back since he left. It’s a long time coming. I actually hung out with him in the States last summer. And he is so eager to come back. I know he is excited,” said Ross.
The San Miguel playing assistant coach has no information yet on when McCullough will fly to Manila, but it will definitely be some time after his stint in Taiwan.
“I know he is in the playoffs right now so I think he will be here like middle of June, I think he will be here,” said Ross.
As for McCullough being a Gilas naturalized player, Ross said his desire hasn’t wavered a bit.
“Of course, he wants to,” said Ross.
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