Chris Ross playing through Achilles injury for San Miguel in Philippine Cup finals

Just when it appeared that TNT had finally wrestled control of the night, CJ Perez reminded everyone that the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals still belonged to him.

In a pulsating Game 3 that swung wildly from quarter to quarter, Perez delivered one of the most ruthless closing performances of the series, erupting for 17 of his 20 points in the fourth quarter to lift San Miguel Beer to a 95–89 victory over TNT. The win, achieved in front of a loud and energized Sunday crowd at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, pushed the Beermen to a 2–1 lead in the best-of-seven Finals and reaffirmed their championship pedigree.

While Perez grabbed the headlines with his late-game heroics, San Miguel’s victory also came with a quieter, grittier storyline—one defined by sacrifice and toughness. Veteran guard Chris Ross has been playing through pain in his Achilles tendon as he continues to suit up for the Beermen in their title push.

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Despite clearly not being at full strength, Ross has remained determined to contribute however he can, leaning on experience and leadership as San Miguel battles through a tightly contested series.

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“It’s still tight, but I just have to fight through it. The good thing is, we have two more days before the next game, so I can get a bit healthier to try and help the team,” Ross said in the postmatch press conference.

The injury is not new. Ross has been dealing with the Achilles issue since the semifinals, and his condition appeared to worsen during Game 3. At the 11:08 mark of the third quarter, the 40-year-old guard took a hard fall that left him visibly limping as he made his way to the bench. He did not return to the game after the incident, raising concerns about his availability moving forward.

Even from the sidelines, Ross remained focused on the bigger picture, praising his teammates for stepping up and stressing the importance of staying grounded despite the series lead.

“My guys got my back, they played well tonight, we got the win. That’s all that matters. We take it game by game. The series is far from over, they are a really good team and we know they will make adjustments,” he added.

Ross’ leadership has long been a cornerstone of San Miguel’s success, and his willingness to play through pain reflects the urgency and stakes of the Finals. Whether he can return to action will be closely monitored as the series progresses, especially with TNT expected to respond with renewed intensity.

San Miguel will hope that the veteran guard can recover enough to take the floor when Game 4 between the two teams tips off on Wednesday, January 28, once again at the SM Mall of Asia Arena, as the Beermen look to tighten their grip on the Philippine Cup crown while TNT fights to level the series.

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