NOBODY wanted to avenge San Miguel Beer’s painful and controversial loss to TNT in Game 1 of the Big Dance than veteran floor general Chris Ross and wingman Don Trollano last Wednesday night.
“Matagal na kaming magkasama ni Chris Ross since our first championship. Every championship alam ko nag-i-step up siya starting from the playoffs then tonight nakita natin how important he is,” Beermen coach Leo Austria said. “Nandoon iyong kanyang leadership, nandoon iyong kanyang distribution ng bola and then comfortable sa kanya ang mga player as a point guard.
“Then we’re so lucky because we did not commit a lot of turnovers. I think we had 10 turnovers. We’re averaging before, 15. You can see naman doon iyong stats. So, it’s a balanced scoring from the bench at saka ito iyong starters namin,” he added.
Austria spoke after his troops carved out a 98-92 victory over the Grand Slam-seeking Tropang 5G in Game 2 of their title clash in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Ross, 40, finished with seven points, four rebounds, seven assists, and four steals for SMB while Trollano presided over the team’s attack with a team-high 22 markers and six boards.
The win atoned for the Beermen’s 96-99 defeat to TNT that was marred by a late-game offensive basket interference call on SMB big man Mo Tautuaa’s slam dunk in the opening duel and evened the series at 1-1.
Game 3 is set tonight at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Austria said of Trollano: “Very steady siya. From the start of the second quarter, I know na, makikita mo naman sa body language niya. Unlike in practice, makikita mo, tatawa-tawa lang siya. Pero tonight, makikita mo, seryoso siya and that’s a sign of body language na he wants to win.”
The Beermen did not have any other recourse but redeem themselves—which they did.
“Halos lahat, pagdating namin sa practice after noong game, last Monday, wala kaming masabi, until na dumating iyong management, so wala na tayong magagawa,” Austria said.
“So, we have to fight back, and then bounce back, and then this is what happened. Makikita mo naman, sa body language ng mga player. They want to win.”
