Chris McCullough delivers the dough for San Miguel

  • Aug 19, 2019
  • BASKETBALL
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In the post-game interview of his debut against the NLEX Road Warriors, Chris McCullough mentioned that he might celebrate the victory with Jollibee Chickenjoy because he revels in the taste of the delicacy as well as its gravy.

But during the pivotal Game Five of the 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, the 29th overall selection of the 2015 NBA Draft brought the gravy into his game to ignite a monumental comeback for the San Miguel Beermen.

It’s fascinating that the two chapters of his game were aptly described by his acquired moniker “Brisk”. He brisked through the first three quarters and was outplayed by TNT import Terrence Jones. But he turned things around by brisking through the Katropa defense in the fourth.

McCullough compiled 19 of his 35 points in the final chapter while Jones only had three to go with three crucial turnovers. More importantly, he led San Miguel’s surge from 16 points down with over ten minutes left to a 99-94 victory that brought them to within one win of the title.

He closed his stint by keeping SMB’s Grand Slam hopes alive with 35 points, 13 rebounds, and four blocks in a game that he nearly played wire to wire. The win clinched the Beermen’s 27th PBA title and third in the last five conferences. With the trophy in the bag, McCullough was candid enough to share that he will have Chickenjoy to celebrate the championship.

Despite helping in turning the fortunes of the SMC franchise, the baller from the Bronx doesn’t want to be tagged as the savior. Rather, he just wants to be recognized as someone who helped. He has already declared his intention to play in the PBA again if he will not be back in the NBA. Winning the Commissioner’s Cup once again could turn him into a resident import, much like Justin Brownlee.

But as he brought dough to San Miguel, Philippine basketball fans are hoping that he can brisk his was to the Gilas Pilipinas men’s squad as its naturalized player. He passed his audition with flying colors. It’s just a matter of time until he is called back to bring his gravy to the national team.