San Miguel’s Game 2 plan: Stop Smith

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BY ADRIAN STEWART CO
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Friday, June 23, 2017
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TNT Katropa import Joshua Smith (foreground) beats San Miguel Beermen’s Yancy de Ocampo for a rebound in Game 1 of the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup best-of-seven finals on Wednesday night. PBA

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MANILA – San Miguel are plotting to stop TNT import Joshua Smith as they try to equalize the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup finals in Game 2 tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.

Beermen head coach Leo Austria admitted that the 6-foot-10, 330-pound Katropa reinforcement was a huge problem for them in Game 1, which TNT won, 104-102, on a last-minute shot by Smith.

“Next game, we’ll try to contain him,” said Austria. “Even if he is not a hundred percent healthy, iba pa rin iyong nadadala niya sa team if he’s inside.”

San Miguel center June Mar Fajardo, one of the tallest players in the league at 6-foot-11, also admitted having a hard time stopping Smith.

Sobrang laki niya e, saka mabigat siya, kaya kailangan namin mag-adjust kung paano siya ma-stop,” Fajardo said. “Isa siya sa pinakamabigat na nabantayan koKita naman e, sobrang bigat niya.”

Siguro i-double team namin siya,” added the Beermen big man, who was at the receiving end of Smith’s game-winning hook shot. “Siguro magpo-provide ng help pero tingnan natin ano gusto ni coach Leo.”

Meanwhile Katropa head coach Nash Racela said that while Smith’s basket made a difference in Game 1, the collective effort of the crew should also be given credit for the series-opener victory.

Rookie Roger Pogoy had career-best 27 points, Jayson Castro had a near triple-double 14 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds, while RR Garcia, Troy Rosario and Kelly Williams also provided scoring for TNT./PN

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