Ross urges peers to throw ‘selfish bone’

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Beer guard Chris Ross urged his peers to take the right mindset when they head to the gym for training restart under strict health and safety protocols and possibly play games later on.

“The main thing I think we need to take into account is whatever selfish bone you have in your body, you have to throw that out and hold yourself accountable if we’re going to be in this bubble,” Ross said on “The Huddle” on TV5.

The 10-year veteran reminded everyone to make the new normal activities work safely not only for themselves and their families but also for everyone else in the PBA.

“This thing can affect more than just you and we all have to be on the same team as far as wanting to get the PBA back up and wanting to keep the bubble as tight as possible and try to get out there and keep us as safe as possible,” he said.

After previously expressing reservations about a “premature” return to practices without a vaccine, Ross saw the wisdom and the feasibility of the PBA’s guidelines and committed to the eyed restart.

He was part of a group of player representatives who went over the restart plans in a meeting with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial.

“We went over a lot and pretty much we all went into the fact knowing that there’s no option where there’s zero risk.

“So we went over the fact we all got to be professionals, we have to keep it as low-risk as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, PBA coaches are ready to roll with the non-scrimmage practices after finding the league-prepared and government-approved health guidelines and safety protocols a “doable” proposition.

“I think it’s good. All we have to do is follow it,” Ginebra coach Tim Cone said after yesterday’s coaches and team managers’ meeting with the league commissioner, deputy commissioner Eric Castro, and legal counsel Melvin Mendoza.

“The PBA has put up an effective guidelines to safeguard the players. It’s just a matter of attitude from the players to maintain it,” NLEX mentor Yeng Guiao concurred.

San Miguel tactician Leo Austria expressed the same sentiment and batted for the “3Ds.”

“Players must practice the 3Ds – discipline, determination and dedication – to keep everybody safe,” he said

Last week, the PBA got the greenlight from the Inter-Agency Task Force to resume limited, non-scrimmage practice sessions.

The pro league is preparing to get the ball rolling by briefing the coaches and team managers and getting their inputs yesterday and by finalizing things in a special board meeting today.