For at least two instances in Game 1 of the 2017 Commissioners Cup Finals, TNT Katropa’s big bodied reinforcement Joshua Smith went in and out of the dugout. And it was still because of the right foot injury he sustained six days ago.
Back with 3:20 left in the third frame, the 6-foot-10, 330-pound big man had accidentally been stepped on by San Miguel’s 6-foot-11 giant June Mar Fajardo. Smith had to go back to the locker room during a TNT timeout and did not return until the start of the final frame.
Again with 8:30 remaining in the game, Smith figured in another freak accident. As he was getting back on defense after a Roger Pogoy three, Smith, who was coming back on defense, and Chris Ross, who was trying to receive a pass, clashed. The 25-year-old again grimaced in pain.
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During the build-up to this series, Smith had been taking painkillers and going through a lot of rest just to make him go through the practices.
“Just some painkillers. Sometimes, I take it in practice,” TNT’s fourth import for the conference shared. “Lots of rest also, since you know, we’ve played a lot of games.
“Like I said, my foot needs rest right now.”
But time and time again, Smith’s mantra in this stint with the TNT Katropa has been that it would hurt more for him if did not suit-up. And it was the same case again on Wednesday night.
“I just kept telling myself 12 minutes, 12 minutes, 12 minutes.
“Like I said, my thing is, as much as it is easy for me to pack up my stuff and leave, I want tp keep playing. I came here with one goal and I’m so close so I gotta take it day by day,” the native of Seattle, Washington reflected after leaving the court during the third canto.
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Pain and all, Smith was bruised but not defeated, mustering one last push in the most crucial of moments. With the game knotted at 102-all, Smith was able to knock down a tough lay-in with 1.6 seconds left that served as the game-winner that gave TNT Game One.
“It was for Jayson. He wasn’t open. I caught the ball, I was looking for somebody to pass it to,” Smith recalled.
“Once there was nobody else I just decided to it myself.”
Afterwards, he let out a thunderous scream that echoed all throughout the arena.
“I can’t repeat it on the airwaves. My mom would kill me,” quipped Smith, who finished the game with 21 points and nine rebounds in 26 minutes of action, about what he said.
What he said during that time might be because of the anguish he was feeling. Or maybe it was the feeling of getting the best dose of remedy he could get: a victory.
“We got the win. It feels good to hit the game-winning shot but like I said, I’m not one of those guy– looking at my stats,” Smith closed.
“As long as my team scores more than the other team, I did my job.”
