Foul-plagued Rhodes feels he let SMB down

MANILA, Philippines – San Miguel import Charles Rhodes found himself unable to sustain his blistering start to Game 1 in the 2017 PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals, as foul trouble again hampered the big man against the TNT KaTropa.

Rhodes torched TNT for 21 points in the first quarter alone, giving SMB a 31-24 edge. Unfortunately for Rhodes, he did not score again until the fourth period; instead, he collected four fouls in the second and third periods that forced coach Leo Austria to use him sparingly.

SMB's Charles Rhodes attempts a lay-up against TNT in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals. Richard Esguerra, ABS-CBN Sports

The import finished with 31 points on 12-of-21 shooting, on top of 13 rebounds. However, he was also responsible for six of SMB's 23 turnovers in the game, and never regained the rhythm that he had in the opening quarter.

TNT eventually took a 104-102 win, after import Joshua Smith knocked down the game-winner with 1.6 seconds left.

"I just got out of rhythm," said Rhodes after the game. "Talk 'N Text did a great job on me, and I got to do better. I got to step up."

"I didn't step up in the second and third quarter, and I let my team down," he added. "I just got to do better next game, because I let my team down."

Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/22/17/foul-plagued-rhodes-feels-he-let-smb-down