Chris Ross wants to stay: Veteran seeks San Miguel extension after PBA title run

Veteran guard Chris Ross showed that he still has a lot to offer despite being 40 years old, playing a key role in the San Miguel Beermen’s 2025 Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Philippine Cup championship win.

Ross turned back the clock in the Finals series against the TNT Tropang Giga, averaging 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game across six appearances. He logged approximately 30 minutes per game—second most for San Miguel after record eight-time PBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) June Mar Fajardo.

The 40-year-old recently confirmed that his current contract with San Miguel expires at the end of the month and expressed hope that the franchise will renew it, as he believes he still has more to contribute.

“My contract expires. So hopefully, they renew my contract. We’ll see. I’m good. I’m 40 years old but I’m keeping up with the young guys. My body feels good. I’m going to take this rest, but I’ll be back and ready for next season,” Ross said in a media interaction.

In addition to his role as a player, Ross also served as a deputy coach under head coach Leo Austria. He plans to travel to the United States for a well-deserved vacation and to give his family the chance to meet his newborn son.

“My family hasn’t met my baby yet. Our last championship with Bennie, my wife was here, but the baby was still in her stomach. He would be too young to remember it. But we have a lot of pictures, articles, and videos to show him. So this one is really special because he’s been with us,” he added.

Chris Ross cherishes PBA title as a first-time dad

Winning championships is nothing new for San Miguel Beermen veteran Chris Ross, but his latest conquest—the 2025 PBA Philippine Cup—holds deeper meaning. pic.twitter.com/Fu8I4Od4e7

— Fastbreak (@fastbreaknewsph) July 27, 2025

While he eventually emerged as a champion, Ross found himself in the middle of controversy during the Finals after being accused by TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa of showboating and being disingenuous. The incident occurred 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 post-game narratives shifted after Ross was seen consoling TNT big man Poy Erram.

The gesture didn’t sit well with Lastimosa, who accused Ross of showboating.

“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 responded quickly on X (formerly Twitter), defending himself and calling 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.”

Ross also clarified that his interaction with Erram was sincere and rooted in mutual respect for a fellow player competing 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.”

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