By REYNALD MAGALLON
Chris Ross had an exchange of words with some fans behind the Tropang 5G bench and got TNT manager Jojo Lastimosa also involved. Even the usually calm June Mar Fajardo went at it and gave Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser a nudge and a stare down after making a basket.
Game 3 was nothing short of emotional for both San Miguel and TNT but for the players it was all part of the series.
“It’s the finals,” said Ross commenting on the emotions of Game 3 where the Beermen won 95-89 to take a 2-1 series lead.
“That’s what I tell the guys before every game. We’re playing for a championship. If we’re not getting after it, if we’re not getting in the other team’s face, they’re not getting in our face, what are we doing?,” he added.
As the game went back-and-forth, players were also trading banters, trashtalks and even bumps all throughout the contest.
But was to be expected according to Ross. But more than the extra curricular activities, the veteran guard stressed that the series also offered a display of high-level basketball.
“We expect them to come at us, and they expect us to go at them. It’s the finals.
It’s two really good teams going at it. You guys shouldn’t expect anything less,” said Ross.
“I hope the fans are really tuned in because this is really high-level basketball that’s being played. It’s really a treat for everyone,” he added.
As for the spat with the fans, Ross said there should really be a line between players and the spectators, especially when players were hurt on the floor.
“I don’t know if it’s family members that are yelling at me, telling me to get off the court and hurry up. If I’m hurt, I’m hurt. I just think that’s really disrespectful to talk to a player when he’s hurt, rushing him off the court,” said Ross, who tweaked his ankle in the play prior to the altercation.
“It was directed at the fans, but they were women, so I don’t talk down on women. I respect all women. Jonas got into it, so I got into it with him a little bit,” he added.
Ross, however, assured that everything is good between him and the TNT official.
“He came up to me after the game and apologized, and that was it.”
