The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel made adjustments in Game Two on Tuesday night, and made it hard for TNT Katropa import Joshua Smith to play the same way he had back in Game One last Sunday, where he had 35 markers and 13 boards.
But that is the least of the 6-foot-9, 330-pound center’s concerns.
“Today was a hard-fought game. Obviously we got the win, and that’s the most important thing,” said Smith, who finished with 16 points and 16 caroms, after TNT’s 107-103 win that lifted them to a 2-0 lead in the race-to-three series.
“It’s two hard teams playing. I’m just happy we got the win.”
Making Smith more upbeat was the presence of reliable teammates, as he praised the likes of Anthony Semerad, Game 2’s hero; and Kris Rosales, who had eight markers on 60 percent shooting, three boards, and two dimes in 16 minutes.
Furthermore, TNT’s victory saw them deploy a balanced attack, with five players finishing in double figures.
“They can make any adjustments they want. If they take me away, there are other people on my team which showed up today. Anthony had one hell of a fourth quarter, Kris gave us some good minutes,” the Seattle, Washington-native lauded.
“We’re a team. You take one person away, someone else steps up.”
And now that the Katropa are on the cusp of returning to the Commissioner’s Cup Finals since 2015, Smith could not be more excited of this great chance.
“I’m excited. That’s why I came here — I came here to win, I came here to compete. And so far, we’ve been doing that,” said the Georgetown Hoya. “It’s gonna be another hard fought game come Thursday.
“We have to prepare tomorrow but yeah, we’re one step away.”
