Chris Ross defends himself after Jojo Lastimosa criticizes his Game 4 conduct

San Miguel Beermen veteran Chris Ross has responded strongly to TNT Tropang Giga team manager Jojo Lastimosa, following a heated incident during Game 4 of the 2024–25 PBA Philippine Cup Finals at the SM Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday, July 20.

San Miguel notched a crucial 105–91 win over TNT to take a commanding 3-1 series lead, but the post-game narrative quickly shifted off the court after Ross was seen consoling TNT big man Poy Erram. The gesture didn’t sit well with Lastimosa, who accused Ross of showboating and being disingenuous.

“He has this habit of taunting this area,” Lastimosa said in a post-game interview. “He comes over here and looks at the wives and girlfriends, acting like he’s a good guy. But he complains a lot, and he doesn’t admit it. He’s not a nice guy.”

Ross wasted no time responding to the remarks, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to defend himself and call out Lastimosa.

“I’m not a nice guy? You have no clue who I am as a person,” Ross wrote. “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.”

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 also clarified that his interaction with Erram was sincere and came from a place of respect for a fellow competitor playing through pain.

“I was checking on Poy all game, asking if he was okay. After the game, he was sitting alone, so I told him how I felt — appreciating his courage to play,” Ross explained. “But a group of people behind the bench started cursing at me. And I’m the bad person? Let’s keep it on the court.”

Erram was reportedly dealing with a swollen right ankle and a sore left knee, but still suited up for TNT, earning praise from both fans and opponents for his toughness.

Lastimosa didn’t stop at Ross, also taking aim at Jericho Cruz, accusing him of “showboating” and “acting like a little boy” during the game — remarks that only further inflamed tensions between the two camps.

As the series heads into Game 5 on Wednesday, July 23, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the focus now turns to whether TNT can mount an improbable comeback or if San Miguel will close out the series and continue their reign as one of the PBA’s most dominant dynasties.

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