CHRIS Ross downplayed the incident between him and Calvin Oftana in Game Two of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals, stressing that neither has any beef against each other.
But the veteran guard was quick to point out that a line should be drawn between playing physical and playing dirty at the same time.
“It happens to be not physical, it happens to be dirty where there should be a line drawn,” said Ross in the aftermath of San Miguel’s 111-92 win that evened the best-of-seven series at 1-1.
COLUMN: Trollano one of the hardest-working Dons you'll ever meet
“As long as its physical basketball, that’s fine. But when you cross the line and start giving elbows and hip checks and not doing basketball plays, people got to take a look at that.”
Ross fiery words should set the tone for a heated Game 3 on Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
One incident in the fourth quarter of Friday’s game at the Ynares Center in Antipolo had Ross and Calvin Oftana getting entangled in a physical play when the San Miguel guard tried to the ball away from the TNT wingman.
Oftana lost the ball after apparently getting hit in the face, before he swung an elbow that barely missed the head of Ross.
The former NCAA MVP out of San Beda was later slapped a technical foul.
The TNT bench furiously disputed the call, with coach Chot Reyes sarcastically seen waving a white towel from the bench aimed at the technical officials.
Team manager Jojo Lastimosa also left his seat behind the TNT bench to confront the referee as Oftana claimed someone hit him on the face.
Ross in denial
Ross denied he was the culprit.
“I didn’t hit Calvin,” he said without batting an eyelash, adding he didn’t even notice Oftana throwing an elbow just seconds after the incident.
The San Miguel playing assistant coach said he understands the feeling of Oftana, who earlier in the game accidentally hit Marcio Lassiter with an elbow that left the San Miguel gunner with a slight cut on his eyebrow.
“He was trapped and he’s trying to get some space,” he said. “That’s what you’re taught when you’re a basketball player. If someone’s on your face and you’re trapped, you try to get space.
“Calvin didn’t do anything wrong. Honestly, he was just trying to protect the ball and get some space.”
The tempers didn’t end there.
Kevin Ferrer was later seen approaching Ross at the San Miguel bench after the final buzzer and had some words with the veteran Fil-Am.
The 40-year-old Ross expects the physicality to reach another level as the series wears on.
“I don’t care what happens honestly, as long as we win,” he said. “That’s the goal for us to win four before they win four.”
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
