Now winners of 11 championships, June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross are gunning for more with the San Miguel Beermen before they recede into the sunset of their respective PBA careers.
As per tradition built from 10 previous title wins, June Mar Fajardo and Chris Ross gleefully splashed each other with cans of San Miguel Beer inside their PhilSports Arena dugout on Friday, July 26.
Fajardo and Ross celebrated their 11th championship together with a rookie's gusto, as the Beermen vanquished a hard-fighting TNT Tropang 5G in Game 6 of the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup Finals.
Even after copping nearly a dozen chips, the two seasoned veterans — two-thirds of the famed SMB "Death Five" that had the rest of the league teetering on their heels in the 2010s — are craving for more.
“11 championships. I think we have a few more to go,” said Ross shortly after the celebrations.
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So long as they are healthy, Fajardo said the remaining members of the "Death Five," which also include fellow 11-time champion Marcio Lassiter, will keep chasing glory.
“Sabi ko nga kay Chris, hindi na kami bumabata. So as much as possible, 'pag nakakuha kami ng opportunity na ganito, iga-grab namin,” he said.
“Alam naman namin na hindi ganun kadali makakuha ng championship. Pero capable naman kami eh, basta healthy lang kami.”
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Asked what their target number is, the duo opted to keep the figure close to their chests.
“Me and June Mar talked about it a while back. We have a goal number [of championships] and I won't tell you guys. But we still got a few more to go,” said Ross.
Pressed to give a clue, Fajardo flashed a mischievous smile but also kept mum.
“Marami eh. Di ko babanggitin. Basta marami pa,” the newly-crowned 12-time PBA Best Player of the Conference said.
What Fajardo could say was that he’s been yearning for one thing the Beermen have failed to do twice during his tenure: win a Grand Slam.
“Grand Slam siyempre, 'yun 'yung pinaka-goal namin. Nakasulat nga 'yun sa salamin doon sa kwarto ko: Win a Grand Slam. 'Pag nagpu-push up ako 'yun 'yung tinitingnan ko eh. 'Yun 'yung isa sa motivation ko,” he said.
“Pero alam ko naman na mahirap makakuha ng Grand Slam; hindi naman porket sinasabi natin na gusto natin mag-Grand Slam, makukuha natin agad eh. Kailangan natin pagtrabahuhan 'yun.”
He added: Sabi ko nga sa inyo, hindi naman na kami bumabata, pero gagawin namin lahat, ibibigay namin yung best namin hangga't may ibibigay pa kami.”
For now, Fajardo and Ross are savoring being at the PBA summit for the 11th time.