CHRIS ROSS WARNS 0-2 BEERMEN HAVE A BIG TARGET ON THEIR BACK

ANTIPOLO – It’s been a while since San Miguel found itself starting its campaign on a 0-2 slate.

But for Chris Ross, this is not the time to panic yet.

"It’s not the end of the world, but we’re gonna have some time for an urgency to bounce back and play better," he said Sunday night.

The Ynares Center has not been kind so far to the cause of the defending PBA Philippine Cup champions as they lost their second straight game in the same venue, this time against the Phoenix Fuel Masters, 109-103.

The loss came four days after the Beermen dropped their opening game of Season 50 to the NLEX Road Warriors, 85-84.

Nine-time MVP June Mar Fajardo’s monster game of 19 points and 22 rebounds were not enough to salvage the win for the reigning champions, whose late-game fightback just fell short after trailing by as many as 16 points.

San Miguel has not lost back-to-back games to open a conference since the Season 46 Governors’ Cup, according to PBA chief statistician Fidel Mangonon III.

But in an all-Filipino conference, this is the first time the Beermen are off to a 0-2 slate with Fajardo around.

And it’s also the first time the team carried a 0-2 slate to start a Philippine Cup since Season 35 of the league.

Ross, 40, is giving credit where it is due, though.

"These last two losses are inexcusable. NLEX and Phoenix played better than us so we just to go back to the drawing boards and win some games," he said.

"But we haven’t been at our best that’s why we haven’t won."

If the flat start isn’t enough, the coming three-game stretch is going to be brutal for the Beermen as they will next face Rain or Shine (Oct. 19), Barangay Ginebra in Dubai (Oct. 26), and Converge (Nov. 2).

Ross challenges the Beermen to be on their toes.

"Every game is tough right now. Every team is good. So we have to be at our best. We know we’re gonna get everybody’s best shot, so we have to be at our best. There’s no more teams that you can just walk, wake up, go play and win the game.

"We’ve got to be at our best to get a chance to win," added the San Miguel Beer playing coach. 

2025-10-12T16:15:02Z