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[av_heading heading=’Joshua Smith saves TNT | Late shot lifts Katropa past Beermen in Finals Game 1′ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=”]
BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Thursday, June 22, 2017
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MANILA – Joshua Smith scored on a game-winning hook shot to help TNT escape with a 104-102 victory over San Miguel in Game 1 of the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals last night at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
At 102-all after two free throws by Beermen’s Chris Ross and with 1.6 seconds left in the game, Smith backpedaled on the defense of June Mar Fajardo to execute a shot that pushed Katropa ahead.
Smith – his toe injury notwithstanding – finished with 21 points and 9 rebounds for Katropa, which aim to take the title it last won in 2015.
Roger Pogoy impressed with career-best 27 points, while Jayson Castro flirted with triple-double with 14 points, 10 assists and 9 rebounds.
“It’s always crucial to get the first win,” said TNT head coach Nash Racela. “We did it with Smith not really 100 percent. It just means the other guys did well.”
Beermen started strong, going up by as much as 9 points on conversions by import Charles Rhodes but Katropa rallied back behind Castro, Smith and Anthony Semerad to take a 56-51 halftime lead.
TNT stretched the lead to 60-51 early in the third on hits by Castro but San Miguel rallied to come to within 72-71 before Katropa fought back to preserve a 75-73 lead in the final frame.
Pogoy carried the cudgels in the fourth — his triples gave TNT their largest lead 95-85 before San Miguel countered with a huge run behind Rhodes to tie the count at 99.
Castro scored a trey for TNT to surge 102-99 but free throws by Rhodes and Ross tied the count before Smith went for the game-winning shot.
Rhodes finished with double-double 31 points and 12 rebounds, while Fajardo and Alex Cabagnot had 18 and 16 points, respectively, for Beermen./PN
SCORES
TNT 104 – Pogoy 27, Smith 21, Castro 14, Garcia 13, Rosario 10, Tautuaa 7, Williams 5, Semerad 5, Rosales 2, Golla 0, Carey 0, Nuyles 0
SAN MIGUEL 102 – Rhodes 31, Fajardo 18, Cabagnot 16, Ross 11, Santos 11, Lassiter 8, De Ocampo 6, Espinas 1, Tubid 0
QUARTERS – 24-31, 56-51, 75-73, 104-102
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