As a veteran, Chris Ross' job is to look after San Miguel's young ones, guiding them in their quest for their first PBA title.
At this point in his illustrious career, San Miguel veteran Chris Ross views PBA championships in a different light: he wants to achieve it for his other teammates who haven't experienced it yet.
This time, his goal is to have Juami Tiongson, Andreas Cahilig and JM Calma lift their maiden winner's trophy as they take on TNT for the Philippine Cup crown in a best-of-seven battle beginning Sunday, July 13.
[WATCH: Chris Ross shines in San Miguel's Game 7 win | PBA Highlights]
“For me, personally, I always have a sense of gratitude and happiness when I can help someone else get their first,” the 10-time league champion said during the Finals press conference Friday, July 11.
“Guys like Juami and Andreas and JM, those guys haven’t won a championship yet. So for me, every time we win a championship, I look out for the guys that haven’t won one, more so than the guys that have one.”
Tiongson, Cahilig and Calma are closer than ever to savoring a PBA title.
But standing in their way is TNT, which will be more than determined to score the rare golden hat-trick this 49th season.
Chris Ross reacts during San Miguel's Game 7 joust with Ginebra in the PBA semifinals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
The trio could rely on the guidance of Ross in facing this tall task, with the latter showing he still has gas left on his tank after putting up a vintage performance in the Beermen's Finals-clinching Game 7 win against Ginebra.
The former Best Player of the Conference and two-time Finals Most Valuable Player Ross scored 19 points — including seven in the final four minutes — and added three rebounds, seven assists and four steals to his tally.
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But while Ross isn’t exactly expected to play heavy minutes for the entire series, he is eager to help in any capacity as he eyes a 10th championship for coach Leo Austria and 11th for him, June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter.
“It's good for all of us, right, if we win a championship?” Ross said.
Match unfurls at 7:30 p.m.