CHRIS Ross declined to comment on the foul that he committed that nearly cost San Miguel the ballgame on Thursday against Rain or Shine in the PBA 49th Season Governors’ Cup.
With San Miguel up by three, 111-108, with 6.8 seconds left, the Beermen took a calculated decision to foul and turn the game into a free throw shooting contest instead of letting the Elasto Painters take a game-tying three or even a game-winning four-point shot.
Ross fouled Felix Lemetti, who threw up a shot from four-point range shortly after the contact with three seconds remaining. Referees, however, ruled the infraction as a shooting foul, sending Lemetti to the line and nailing the four free throws awarded to him.
Fortunately for Ross and San Miguel, the Beermen were able to reply with June Mar Fajardo sinking a jumper from the free throw line in a wild finish to the game that gave them a 113-112 win.
READ: June Mar Fajardo's buzzer-beater for SMB breaks Rain or Shine's heart
Ross though was noticeably livid with the call, complaining to the game officials about the foul shortly after Fajardo’s game-winning shot. The San Miguel guard even posted nine laughing emojis on his X, formerly Twitter account.
Ross was later tight-lipped when he faced the media after the game.
“I don’t want to get fined. I’m not getting fined right now. I don’t want to get fined,” Ross said.
Ross though rued that there was also a questionable call during San Miguel’s loss to NLEX last Saturday in Cagayan De Oro City.
“I know that’s two games in a row where there were questionable calls that is going against us. But there’s nothing we can do but just play basketball,” said Ross.
Ross said San Miguel was indeed looking to foul in Rain or Shine’s possession.
“We said to foul. One dribble, cross halfcourt, I fouled. Whatever they called. I’m not going to get fined,” Ross said.
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent was also seen disagreeing with the call, but would rather move on when asked during the postgame press conference.
“I don’t want to say it was a good decision because [when] Chris thought he fouled him, he fouled him sa floor. But if the referee didn’t call a shooting foul, I think that was the best decision," Gallent explained.
To foul him down and to make it a free throw contest. But you know, it is what it is. The referee called a four-point (act of shooting) foul. We just have to learn from that and move on."
Ross was furious at the call, but that feeling was later diffused at the dugout when Fajardo was joking at him for the foul that nearly cost the game.
“Luckily, he made the shot. He’s making fun of me on the back, saying he bailed me out. You know how he is. He’s never serious. Then he goes, ‘Hey, bro, I bailed you out, stop fouling bro.’
“That’s just June Mar but that was a big shot for him to put on his long highlight reel of his career,” said Ross.
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