MANILA — Former Meralco Bolts teammates Cliff Hodge and Chris Ross are excited to go up against each other in the 2024 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

The two, who played together for the Bolts from 2012 to 2013 until Ross was traded to the San Miguel franchise, will be facing in the championship stage for the first time in their careers.

But just before they face off in a best-of-seven series for the league's All-Filipino crown, the two briefly looked back on the time that they spent together in Meralco.

"Cliff was my rookie, man. I kind of took care of Cliff when he was a freshman in the league," said Ross during the pre-Finals presser on Monday afternoon in Ortigas.

Ross was dealt to San Miguel in exchange for Denok Miranda, and that is where he won all of his 10 championships with the Beermen.

But while they only shared a few years with Meralco, the former Gilas Pilipinas guard said that he is very proud of how he has matured throughout the years. 

"I just really have a good relationship with Cliff, and to see how his career went, a lot of the heartbreaks he had, coming from a really young man to a grown man, he's matured a lot. And one thing about Cliff is his intensity on the court hasn't changed," he added.

Ross even delivered an off-court assist for Hodge some years back.

"I'm proud of Cliff. I couldn't be more proud of him, and I wish him the best of luck. I even sold him my car," Ross revealed. 

Hodge said that Chris sold him his first car in the Philippines — a used but still in good condition one for Php 400,000 — but more than this, his former vet also gave him a lot of valuable lessons when they were together.

"That's my vet. He actually sold me my first car here," said the 2012 Rookie Draft 4th overall pick.

"But he's always been a guy I looked up to when I was younger. He's put in the work, and I've actually modeled my game to him because he's always been a defensive player."

And now that they are set to clash in the PBA's grandest stage, the Meralco mainstay said that the best way for him to apply Ross' lessons against him is to get his first title by defeating SMB.

"It's crazy to see him in the Finals, and it would be fitting for me to win my first championship against him," said Hodge.

"I know that he doesn't want it, but I hope that it actually happens," he said. 

Game 1 of the Finals is scheduled on Wednesday, June 5, 7:30 p.m. at the Araneta Coliseum.