Chris Ross defended San Miguel Beer teammate June Mar Fajardo from criticisms after the decorated center drew flak from a sub-par performance in Gilas Pilipinas’ opening game loss to Chinese Taipei in the 33rd FIBA Asia Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The eight-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Most Valuable Player’s presence was barely felt despite almost 20 minutes of action in a sorry 87-95 defeat by Gilas to the Taiwanese early Wednesday (Manila time).

Fajardo’s performance wasn’t the same dominating outing he usually displayed in the PBA, where he recently powered the Beermen to the Philippine Cup crown.

But Ross quickly backed the 6-foot-10 big man, saying that Fajardo’s role under the system of Gilas head coach Tim Cone is different from that of San Miguel.

“June isn’t the focal point of the offense,” Ross said in response to an X (Twitter) post by a netizen calling Fajardo “a complete joke in international (play).”

In front of a partisan crowd inside the King Abdullah Sports City, Fajardo only had two points on 1-of-3 field goal shooting, two rebounds and one block.

The 12-time PBA Best Player of the Conference committed three turnovers, including a couple of traveling calls.

Ross, who played for Gilas during its Hangzhou Asian Games gold medal conquest two years ago, explained that Cone’s patented Triangle Offense gives more scoring opportunity for naturalized player Justin Brownlee to operate.

“Playing in the triangle before during Asian Games, the offense is catered around JB,” he said.

The playing assistant coach of San Miguel also pointed out that although Fajardo has been serving Gilas for quite some time, he didn’t have enough time to practice with the team due to his PBA commitments.

And it doesn’t help that he’s playing through pain with a calf injury he suffered during the PBA all-Filipino Conference’s semifinals against Cone’s Barangay Ginebra.

“Another thing, June hasn’t practiced since Game 1 of the semis, trying to manage his injury. Only if y’all knew what he’s doing just to get on court,” Ross emphasized.

Fajardo only joined Gilas’ training last Friday, skipping the team’s first practice session to rest. He suited up for the Nationals in their tune-up game against Jordan.

The Gilas behemoth is expected to bounce back in a crucial match against New Zealand as of press time.