Joshua Smith knows how frustrating it is to get the shorter end of the stick as far as officiating is concerned. He got a taste of it in the 2017 Commissioner’s Cup Finals, where whistles were blown in his ear too many times.
A year later, it looks like nothing has changed in his eyes.
The TNT import fouled out in Game One of their 2018 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series against the San Miguel Beermen on Monday night. And his absence proved costly, as the Katropa bowed to defending champions, 110-121.
Smith got his sixth and last foul with 3:39 left to play after a light shove on June Mar Fajardo underneath the rim. With him out, San Miguel had a feast, as they scored nine straight points from that point on to break away for good.
“Refs gotta let me play, man,” rued the 6-foot-10, 211-pound big man moments after the match, where he left with 17 points, eight rebounds, and four assists plus four steals.
Safe to say, the American reinforcement has plenty of things to get off his chest regarding the officiating. But the amiable Smith simply decided not to, since comments on such issues might lead to fines or other sanctions.
“I mean, some of those calls, I foul ’em, I’m a basketball player. But… I got nothing.”
But when asked if those calls against him were questionable, Smith only said:
“That’s an understatement.”
