SAN Miguel is three wins away from sweeping the elimination round of the PBA Philippine Cup, but Chris Ross said there hasn’t been any discussion about that rare feat within the team.
Ross said the team has been focused on the games that are ahead of them and wasn’t even aware that the Beermen were 7-0 entering the crucial encounter against Magnolia on Friday.
“We haven’t talked about it one time. We are worried about each game, game-by-game,” said Ross.
“I honestly didn’t know that we were 7-0 until one of the coaches told me. I knew we hadn’t lost but I didn’t know how many games we’d won. We haven’t talked about it one time. We are going in there, we are working hard, we are approaching these games the same. If it comes as a win, it comes as a win,” said Ross.
San Miguel coach Jorge Gallent previously emphasized that they are taking the Philippine Cup campaign a game at a time, considering each game as a step for improvement in their bid for a championship.
Ross helped San Miguel’s bid to sweep the eliminations after finishing with 15 points and shooting 5-of-10 from threes in the Beermen’s 98-91 win over the Hotshots in a rematch of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals last February.
It is Ross’ conference-high in points and threes while coming one trey short of his season-high in treys when he buried six in a December 15 game against Barangay Ginebra.
Ross said he has always been ready to take the open three. His performance from the outside also led to June Mar Fajardo dishing out seven assists in the contest, his season-high.
“Just comfortable with that shot. I’ve been doing this for a long time. Me and June Mar have a connection. When I’m free, I shoot it. There are only two things that it could do, go in or miss. It falls today. Some of them were big. Some of them were early in the game. You have to have the guts to take those shots. I’ve been in so many close games, and I’m fine with the results,” said Ross.
Ross said his conversions will come in handy come playoff time with San Miguel looking to capture another crown after the Commissioner’s Cup title.
“You guys act like it’s a surprise, I’ve made 10 threes in a game,” said Ross in jest to reporters. “I’ve made nine threes in a game, eight in a game. If I’m open, I’m going to shoot it.”
“It’s getting close to playoff time too so I’m ramping up my workouts and getting my body right for this playoff run. I’ve been just trying to stay healthy this whole time,” said Ross.
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