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[av_heading heading=’ BUZZER BEATER | Rhodes taking on his first Finals ever’ 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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Wednesday, June 21, 2017
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SAN MIGUEL Beermen reinforcement Charles Rhodes has been playing as import, moving from one country to another, but it will be his first time to play in a championship series in the 2017 Oppo PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
The 31-year-old Rhodes, who had been waiting for this opportunity for a long time, could not contain his emotions when San Miguel defeated Star Hotshots in their semifinals game last Friday night.
“I got emotional, I almost cried on the court. It’s overwhelming,” said Rhodes. “I just wanna thank God for blessing me to get that — this is [the] first Finals I’ve ever been in my whole career, so it really means a lot to me.”
Rhodes said he is thankful to his teammates for helping him carry the load offensively and defensively in the entire conference that resulted to another Finals stint.
“Everybody on the court knew what we had to do. All the players, all the credit to them, because they stepped up defensively and offensively. And we were rebounding the ball toward the endgame, so that helped us,” said Rhodes.
Prior to his stint with Beermen, Rhodes, an undrafted player during the 2008 NBA Rookie Draft, has played as reinforcements overseas in Spain, the Turkish Basketball League and the Korean Basketball League.
“I’ve played in various countries but this is my first Finals ever, so I’m going to give my 130 percent,” said Rhodes, who had decent 24 points, 9.25 rebounds and 1.5 blocks on average during the semifinals series.
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TNT Katropa will stick to Joshua Smith as import as they head to Game 1 of the best-of-seven championship series tonight at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
Tuesday noon passed without Katropa informing the league that it will change its reinforcement, according to the PBA Commissioner’s Office.
TNT head coach Nash Racela said they decided to retain the services of Smith for the meantime despite the availability of a replacement import, Mike Myers, due to his familiarity with the team’s dynamics.
“Of course at this point, if we could, we want to stick with Joshua. He’s familiar with the game, with the PBA, the officiating. He’s been with the team for a month and a half, so the question is: why replace him if he can play?” Racela said.
“If we can stick with him until the last game, then we will,” added Racela. “Pero maganda na ring may standby import para [kung] sakaling hindi siya mag-fit. We will take it day to day.”
Smith managed decent numbers in Game 4 of their semifinals series against Barangay Ginebra San Miguel Kings while nursing a torn ligament on the right foot.
On Monday Beermen head coach Leo Austria said they are ready for whoever Katropa fields as import. “Basta ang ginagawa namin sa ngayon, basic preparations, and then adjust na lang sa laro,” said Austria, who has yet to lose after four previous Finals appearance in the league./PN
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