Smith plays through pain, helps TNT secure finals seat
MANILA, Philippines — Joshua Smith showed admirable courage in playing through pain and the TNT KaTropa Texters took the cue from their import, delivering the death blow on the Barangay Ginebra Kings, 122-109, to set up a finals showdown with the San Miguel Beermen in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup at the Cuneta Astrodome Saturday night.
Smith, enduring a slight ligament tear, helped TNT regain the lead midway through the fourth then Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams took over, leading the way in a decisive closing flurry that carried the Texters to a first finals in six conferences.
Almost all the Texters and the TNT coaching staff approached Smith for a warm embrace at the buzzer of what could possibly be his last game in the tourney.
His condition will be assessed to see if he can take the rigors of the best-of-seven finale starting Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. TNT has flown in a standby import in Mike Myers and is also expecting to arrive soon Mike Craig, the team’s import for the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Just everything is on their favor, but I know it’s the Lord’s favor that really matters. Our focus and composure helped us through,” said Nash Racela, a rookie coach leading the Texters to a first finals since their 2015 Commissioner’s Cup title run.
Smith went in and out of the floor, contributing 18 points, five rebounds and two assists as he certainly helped get TNT in a position to deliver the kill on the Gin Kings.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2017/06/17/1711038/smith-plays-through-pain-helps-tnt-secure-finals-seat
Smith, enduring a slight ligament tear, helped TNT regain the lead midway through the fourth then Jayson Castro and Kelly Williams took over, leading the way in a decisive closing flurry that carried the Texters to a first finals in six conferences.
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| TNT KaTropa's Joshua Smith during the Game 4 of the PBA semifinals, Saturday at the Cuneta Astrodome. | PBA Media Bureau |
His condition will be assessed to see if he can take the rigors of the best-of-seven finale starting Wednesday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. TNT has flown in a standby import in Mike Myers and is also expecting to arrive soon Mike Craig, the team’s import for the Commissioner’s Cup.
“Just everything is on their favor, but I know it’s the Lord’s favor that really matters. Our focus and composure helped us through,” said Nash Racela, a rookie coach leading the Texters to a first finals since their 2015 Commissioner’s Cup title run.
Smith went in and out of the floor, contributing 18 points, five rebounds and two assists as he certainly helped get TNT in a position to deliver the kill on the Gin Kings.
Source: http://www.philstar.com/sports/2017/06/17/1711038/smith-plays-through-pain-helps-tnt-secure-finals-seat
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