5RVV SOD\HG OLNH DQ LPSRUW YV 3DLQWHUV

CHRIS Ross played like an import on Wednesday? More than that.

While imports virtually do all the scoring, they are expected as well to be the top scorers for their teams almost all of the time.

They are allowed just once to fail to do that. A second misfire might

mean something’s wrong somewhere—as in an import going through some personal problems or, worse, taking a dive.

Finally, imports must deliver the goods 99 percent all the way as they are given the most number of playing minutes in the 48-minute game.

That’s been the SOP (standard operating procedure) for the longest time. Rightly so. Of all the players in a team, the import gets the biggest chunk of the salary pie.

Imports practically “own” every Conference since the PBA was born in 1975.

If, until now, you still can’t believe that, refuse to, you’ve got a problem.

Take the San Miguel Beer-Rain or Shine game on Wednesday.

SMB’s Terik Bridgeman, the dud of an import in his debut, was fielded in again in his second game with the Beermen. Everybody deserves a second chance.

He bungled it. From just two points in Game One, Bridgeman had only four points in Game Two. Bye, Bridgeman. Enter Terrence Watson, who will become SMB’s third import when the Beermen face crowd darling Ginebra San Miguel tomorrow (Sunday).

But before Bridgeman could bid farewell, he owes Ross a million thanks.

Why, because as Bridgeman warmed the SMB bench on Wednesday, Ross more than subbed for him.

As I said, aren’t imports tasked to top score for their teams all of the time?

Ross the non-import did just that, scoring even a game-high 27 poinits, better than the 22 of RoS’s import J’nathan Bullock.

And the big thing about Ross was, while he was booming in bundles, he was also orchestrating SMB’s plays in his usual deadly style.

If Ross was given half of what was due Bridgeman that night, it’d be justified big time. Better if it’d have come in dollars.