by Lou Reyes
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| SMB's Chris Ross. Photo: PBA Images |
San Miguel Beermen veteran Chris Ross found himself in the spotlight off the court after a postgame encounter with TNT Tropang Giga team manager Jojo Lastimosa drew attention following Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals.
The 40-year-old guard, fresh off San Miguel’s 105-91 win that pushed the Beermen to a 3-1 series lead, turned to social media to shed light on the incident. Ross explained that he approached TNT’s Poy Erram after the game to commend him for playing through a painful right ankle injury, but was unexpectedly met with verbal abuse from individuals behind the TNT bench, whom he described as “wives” and supporters.
“I just wanted to acknowledge Poy’s toughness. I’ve been checking on him all game,” Ross said online. “After the game, I told him how much I respected his effort, but people behind their bench started cursing at me for no reason. But I’m the one being called disrespectful?”
I'm not a nice guy??! You have no clue who I am As a person. The few times we spoke I was as respectful as I could be like my pops taught me. I didn't do anything disrespectful to the wives they were all cussing at me which was uncalled for
— Chris Ross (@cmross6) July 20, 2025
Ross defended his character, pointing out that he acted respectfully throughout and was simply trying to show sportsmanship. “I don’t think that kind of hostility was necessary. Let’s keep things on the court,” he added.
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| TNT Tropang 5G manager and former PBA player Jojo Lastimosa (left) and SMB guard Chris Ross. Photo: PBA Images |
The incident sparked a wave of fan support online, with many backing Ross and criticizing Lastimosa and the TNT camp for their reaction. Ross became the second San Miguel player to have a postgame confrontation involving Lastimosa, following Jericho Cruz’s earlier run-in over alleged showboating.
As the Finals intensify, emotions are running high—but for Ross and the Beermen, the focus remains on closing out the series and claiming the Philippine Cup crown.