ANTIPOLO – Chris Ross was a DNP (Did Not Play) with San Miguel’s season on the line on Sunday night in the PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals.
One of the most senior players of the team, the 39-year-old guard was dressed but did not see action in the do-or-die Game 5 which the Beermen won over the hard-fighting Converge FiberXers, 109-105, at the Ynares Center.
“It was coaches’ decision,” was the curt reply of coach Jorge Gallent when asked why Ross, a playing-assistant coach of the team, was not fielded in.
READ Leo Austria plays down Game 4 bench spat with Chris Ross
His failure to see action of course, came just two days following a heated spat on the bench between Ross and team consultant Leo Austria in the third quarter of Game 4 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
Apparently, Ross resented the move by Gallent to take him out of the game during a run made by Converge.
Austria then approached Ross to explain the coaches’ decision, but soon after, the two were seen engaged in a heated spat. Simon Enciso, Rodney Brondial and Vic Manuel had to appease both Austria and Ross to difuse the tension.
The Beermen went on to lose the contest, 114-100, that paved the way for the do-or-die encounter.
Despite not playing, Ross’ presence was still felt on the bench as he would be seen talking or shouting out instructions to Jericho Cruz or Terrence Romeo from time to time during the course of the hotly-contested game.
At one point, he was even approached and playfully pushed away by Converge guard and former teammate Alex Cabagnot to keep him from giving out instructions to Cruz during the final minutes of the game.
Ross was later seen talking to Converge guard Schonny Winston on the way out of the venue, and even introduced his visiting mother to FiberXers deputy coach Charles Tiu.
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