Watching LA Tenorio’s heroics in Game 6 of the 2025 Honda PBA Cup Semifinals must have lit a fire under Chris Ross. Ross did not play in Game 6 but saw early minutes in Game 7. And boy did the San Miguel Beermen need all of his 28 minutes and 46 seconds to take down the vaunted Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. 

Ross was playing with some pent-up energy not just because he sat out the previous game; it was clear he needed to show the rest of the Beermen what it meant to win. He was actively scoring on guys who were in grade school during his time with SMB’s Death 5 and making nifty passes that reminded many of what made San Miguel a devastating matchup. When the dust settled, Ross and the Beermen were the last ones standing. 

This was, for all intents and purposes, a character win for SMB, who a few games ago looked poised to advance to the 2025 Philippine Cup Finals, but were then on the brink of another collapse. In fact, San Miguel was down by three points with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter. That was, until Ross made a signature crucial stop. 

It seemed as if there was a feeling of trepidation within the Beermen for much of the series. They struggled against the Gin Kings especially in the postseason and a loss in this series would have meant another disappointing exit. For a team loaded with stars, they needed a leader and they found one on their bench. 

Injuries aren’t an excuse at this point as none of the semifinalists had complete rosters and even if they did, they were hobbled with various injuries. In SMB’s case, they were managing an aging roster that was working through a period of transition that didn’t really seem to stick. Replacing parts of their dynastic core with similar players didn’t seem to work out and that points to one thing: intagibles. 

Yes, fit may be a factor as to whether or not a player fits with an organization, but it’s just a symptom to the underlying issues that would be the intangibles that make a leader and a winner. 

The San Miguel Beermen needed a reminder of what it took to succeed in the playoffs as their backs were on the wall. Chris Ross was that reminder, even as his highly productive days are behind him. There are days he sits and days he plays, but no matter what, he’s been a shining example of what it takes to win.