Veteran guard Chris Ross turned a halftime altercation into one of the finest performances of his 17-year career, powering San Miguel Beer to a 108-102 victory over Barangay Ginebra on Friday and forcing a do-or-die Game 5 in their PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinal series.
The 41-year-old Ross finished with 20 points, six rebounds, nine assists and five steals as the Beermen leveled the best-of-five affair at 2-2 at Smart Araneta Coliseum, capping a stunning recovery from 17 points down and a 0-2 series hole, according to the Inquirer.
A halftime incident that changed the game
Ginebra appeared in control, taking a 55-41 lead into the halftime break and seemingly on the way to a semifinal date with TNT. But Ross, who had spent the second quarter arguing with officials over calls, got into a heated exchange with Gin Kings assistant coach Olsen Racela, a former San Miguel guard and PBA legend himself.
Cooler heads prevailed, but the confrontation lit a fire under the Beermen's fiery veteran.
“As a 17-year veteran, there's a lot of disrespect that I get,” Ross said after the game.
What followed was a third quarter San Miguel fans will remember for a long time. The Beermen erupted for 46 points in the period, highlighted by a 22-0 run that erased the deficit and left the Gin Kings reeling, according to OneSports.PH.
Ross was at the center of it all, delivering stops on one end and shots on the other, the kind of menacing two-way basketball that defined San Miguel's championship dynasty less than a decade ago.
“It just fueled me to play that much harder,” Ross said. “I feel like I get a lot of disrespect from certain people. People that don't know me, people that never talked to me, had a conversation with me off the court. And I just think it's very disrespectful.”
“I just focused on putting that energy towards my team and my family,” added Ross, whose team now has a chance to become just the fourth side in league history to win a best-of-five series after falling behind 0-2.
What the win means for the Beermen
San Miguel's revival has been remarkable. The Beermen lost the first two games last week and looked finished. Two straight wins later, they head into the decider with all the momentum, as reported by the Daily Tribune.
Ross got plenty of help. June Mar Fajardo, who jokingly told reporters his teammate was actually 52 years old, anchored the interior, while import George King continued to improve as the series wore on. BusinessMirror noted that Ross provided not just leadership but a hugely productive night that allowed San Miguel to survive and force the do-or-die Game 5 for a semifinal berth in the Season 50 Governors' Cup.
The third-quarter explosion was the difference, as Dugout reported, with the Beermen shooting just 29 percent in the first half before ripping off 46 points in the third to take an 87-73 lead into the fourth.
“We haven't done nothing yet,” Ross said. “We just evened the series, they won two straight, we won two straight now. It's a decider. It's usually how it goes.”
“When we play Ginebra, we go to either six or seven [in a best-of-seven series]. We're excited. We're excited to play next game,” he added.
A father's calm after the storm
The intensity that marked Ross' third quarter melted away by the time he faced the press. He arrived at the podium with his son Caius June, a calm father rather than the fierce competitor who had just torched the Gin Kings.
The two walked out of the press room to cheers from jubilant teammates who witnessed what can only be called a Ross renaissance.
Game 5: what happens next
The decider is set for Tuesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo, where San Miguel will lean once more on Ross, Fajardo and King as they try to hand Ginebra a harsh exit from the season-ending conference.
For Ginebra, the question is how a team that led by 17 and controlled the first half so thoroughly let the series slip from its grasp. The Gin Kings squandered a 2-0 lead and now face the uncomfortable prospect of becoming the answer to a trivia question about historic collapses.
For San Miguel, the stakes are just as high but the mood is entirely different. A franchise that has made a habit of championships is one win from the semifinals, with a veteran who plays his best when disrespected leading the charge.
FAQ
When is San Miguel vs Ginebra Game 5?
Game 5 of the PBA Governors' Cup quarterfinals is set for Tuesday at Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Who won Game 4 between San Miguel and Ginebra?
San Miguel Beer won Game 4, 108-102, on Friday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, after a 46-point third quarter keyed by Chris Ross.
What triggered Chris Ross' big game?
Ross said a halftime incident with Ginebra assistant coach Olsen Racela fueled him, adding that he felt disrespected by people who do not know him personally.