SOME key players of San Miguel Beer are currently bothered by injuries, but Chris Ross doesn’t see the situation hampering the team’s title retention bid in the PBA Governors Cup.
Since the Beermen started practicing two weeks ago for their campaign in the season-ending meet, several members have been showing up at the Acropolis gym with issues concerning their health.
But with the exception of top gunner Marcio Lassiter, who’s still recovering from a case of broncopneumonia, Ross believes every injury to the players are minor ones.
Among the Beermen who are battling health issues are Chris Lutz, Ryan Arana, Gabby Espinas, and even Arwind Santos, who, Ross said, is battling a knee problem which he nonetheless dismissed as ‘only minor.’
Lassiter has yet to attend the team’s daily practice, although his condition is now getting better, according to his representative Marvin Espiritu.
“Hopefully, we’ll get our treatment early and get us to close to 100 percent as we can, and be ready to go for the conference,” said Ross, the PBA Press Corps Finals MVP during the last Philippine Cup.
“By the time the (July) 15 comes, we will be at full strength and ready to go.”
The proud franchise’s failure to defend its Commissioner’s Cup crown last conference was something that left a bad taste in the Beermen’s mouth, said Ross.
Import Tyler Wilkerson’s outburst in Game Two of the semifinals against Rain or Shine that led to his banishment, compounded the team’s situation as it bowed out, 3-1.
“We lost last conference and we (definitely) don’t like that feeling,” stressed the Fil-Am guard.
Ross is also glad to see import AZ Reid back in the mix after leading the team to the championship of the same conference a season ago.
“We’re the defending champs, so there’s always a target on our backs. But now, there is an even bigger target because we pretty much have the same team,” he said. “We’re the defending champs, so we’ll be ready to go.”
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