VETERAN guard Chris Ross believes San Miguel has a huge chance of become back-to-back PBA Philippine Cup champions if the team can stay healthy for its entire campaign.
And the Beermen were quick to prove their playing assistant coach was spot on after the team opened its title-retention bid on Friday with a 109-97 win over Rain or Shine at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Double-double for Fajardo
Seven-time MVP June Mar Fajardo suited up after finally getting the go-signal from doctors to play and produced a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds while coming off the bench.
Vic Manuel also played sparingly after missing most of the Commissioner’s Cup campaign including the finals after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his knee.
Seeing his injured teammates back in harness gives Ross enough confidence for San Miguel to score an All-Filipino Cup repeat and a championship sweep of Season 48.
“I know if we’re healthy we have a good shot of being one of the top teams left,” said Ross, who went scoreless as a starter but had three rebounds, four assists, and two steals against the Elasto Painters.
Staying healthy
“Hopefully, we can stay healthy.”
The Beermen won five straight Philippine Cup championships from 2014 to 2019 before relinquishing the crown to Barangay Ginebra during the 2020 bubble season as the 6-foot-10 Fajardo went down with a complete fracture on his right tibia.
They didn’t regain their crown until last year when they defeated reigning champion TNT Tropang Giga in the deciding Game 7 at the Big Dome.
Ross admitted he, Fajardo, and Marcio Lassiter – the last three remnants of the team’s dreaded ‘Death Five’ – had talked about rebuilding San Miguel’s Philippine Cup dynasty shortly after dethroning TNT at the top.
“I know me, June Mar and Marcio have talked about it and we’re excited for a back-to-back all-Filipino title,” said the 39-year-old Fil-Am guard.
“That’s the plan.”
Provided of course, the entire San Miguel team stays healthy.
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