Chris Ross blames Roster Change for San Miguel's PBA Cup Problems
One of the most historic PBA franchises, the San Miguel Beermen, lost their title hopes to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in the Season 49 Governor's Cup semifinals. On Sunday, October 20, at the Araneta Coliseum, they faced elimination after losing Game 6 of the best-of-seven semifinals 102-99.
San Miguel lost their chance to win their 30th PBA title and reach their 46th PBA finals. The loss was especially heartbreaking for a team with such a rich history of success, and veteran player and assistant coach Chris Ross felt it the most.
Chris Ross Season Retrospective
Ross was honest in his post-game interview after the devastating loss, attributing the team's troubles to roster changes during the season. Ross believes these disruptions contributed to the Beermen's elimination from the finals.
“None. Ross said they had no takeaways from their Governor's Cup run because they lost. I feel like our team has changed so much since we won the last championship. Man, so much change. The coaches tried four imports to find a suitable mix. Ginebra is our opponent. Know their stuff.
Rotation and import.
Ross continued to express his anger, contrasting San Miguel's troubles with Ginebra's well-established structure. “We're just trying to figure out what's going to happen—who plays here, who plays there, who shoots, who passes.”
Constant Change Impact
San Miguel struggled all season due to roster instability and team cohesion. Ross noted that the Beermen tried four imports at the Governor's Cup to find the right fit for their local core. Coaches used several lines and rotations to establish a winning formula in a difficult competition due to constant change.
In contrast, Ginebra, their semifinal opponents, had a stable team and system. Their rotation knowledge and Justin Brownlee's steadiness gave them an edge. Late in the playoffs, San Miguel, on the other hand, was disorganized and still searching for answers.
Lack of Depth and Fatigue
The hard work by San Miguel's core players contributed to their semifinal exit. In Game 6, June Mar Fajardo, EJ Anosike, Marcio Lassiter, and CJ Perez all played at least 40 minutes, showing the team's reliance on their stars. This overreliance highlighted the Beermen's roster depth flaws.
Terrence Romeo, a former San Miguel star, played eight minutes and Ross nine. Due to minimal bench contributions, the Beermen relied heavily on their starting lineup, which led to weariness and mistakes in important moments.
Ginebra's deeper roster allowed them to rotate players better, keeping their studs fresh for important stretches. They maintained their passion and attention throughout the series due to this depth.
Lost Chance for Ross
The Governor's Cup semifinal defeat cost Chris Ross a chance to extend his PBA career. One of the most decorated players in league history, the 39-year-old has 10 PBA titles.
He also won two PBA Finals MVP honors, the 2017 PBA Best Player of the Conference, two Defensive Player of the Year titles, and a Most Improved Player award. Five-time PBA All-Star Ross became an assistant coach during the Beermen's 2023/24 Commissioner's Cup win.
Ross knows his time to add titles is dwindling at his age. The disappointment of losing in the semifinals will fuel his determination to win again in future seasons, but the team's constant changes have made it difficult to maintain San Miguel's high performance.After their Governor's Cup run, San Miguel must confront their difficulties. To win again in the coming seasons, they must find roster stability and a solid bench for their primary players.
Chris Ross and the Beermen will ponder and rebuild this summer. San Miguel will grieve, but their history says they can overcome this tragedy.
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