THE way he played in the last PBA Philippine Cup, 40-year-old Chris Ross showed he is still good enough for another tour of duty with San Miguel Beer.
The veteran guard disclosed his contract with the Beermen expires at the end of the onth, and while the mileage may be a bit high now, he swears there remains plenty of gas left in the tank.
“My contract expires. So hopefully, they renew my contract. So we’ll see,” said Ross, who is back in his hometown of San Antonio together with his family after San Miguel regained the all-Filipino Cup championship two weeks ago at the expense of TNT.
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He added the expiring contract covers his other job as deputy coach of the 50-year-old franchise.
"That's their negotiating to do," added Ross.
Now an 11-time champion, Ross turned back the hands of time during the playoffs and all the way to the best-of-seven finals, helping the team bounce back after missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade during the mid-season Commissioner’s Cup and regaining the league’s crown jewel after losing the crown to the Meralco Bolts last year.
In the six games he played in the title series, the 6-foot-1 Fil-Am guard averaged 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.6 steals, while averaging 30 minutes of play per game – the second most among the Beermen behind eight-time MVP June Mar Fajardo.
Ross said the he doesn’t mind playing extended minutes, but cited the need to rest and recharge in the off-season to make him ready for the league’s 50th anniversary season.
“I’m good. I’m 40 years old but I’m keeping up with the young guys. My body feels good,” he stressed.
“But I’m going to take this rest,” a smiling Ross said. “But I’ll be back and ready for the next season.”
Taking a well-deserved vacation in the US was his way to recharge, and at the same time, bring his baby with him in order for his family to finally meet ‘little Chris’ in person as he makes his first trip to Texas.
“My family hasn’t met my baby yet,” Ross said.
Curiously, the last time the Beermen won the 2023-24 Commissioner’s Cup championship, Chris wasn’t a full-time father back then.
“Our last championship with Bennie, she (wifey) was here, but baby was still in her stomach,” said Ross. “He would still be too young to remember it. But we have a lot of pictures, articles, videos to show him. So this one is really special because he’s been with us.”
While in San Antonio, the San Miguel point guard was also part of the inaugural batch of Hall of Famers of the Northside Independent School District, where Ross won a high school championship with John Jay.
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