Joshua Smith vs June Mar Fajardo. PBA IMAGES
There was uncertainty surrounding Joshua Smith’s status for Game 1 of the 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
But after playing through a right foot injury and even hitting the game winner to lift TNT over San Miguel Beer on Wednesday night, his heart could never be questioned.
“He has a big heart,” said TNT head coach Nash Racela of Smith, who sank a hook shot over the Beermen’s June Mar Fajardo with 1.6 seconds left in a dramatic 104-102 win.
“It was for Jayson (Castro). He wasn’t open. I caught the ball, I was looking for somebody to pass it to. Once there was nobody else I just decided to it myself,” Smith recalled of the final play. “My foot’s hurting but it feels better when you win, so that’s all really that matters.”
Racela opted to stick with the injured Smith instead of parading Mike Myers, who was flown in as a potential replacement import, and at least for Game 1, he made the right decision.
Smith came away with 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists, one block and a steal in less than 27 minutes. He also set solid screens that led to baskets and his sheer size gave TNT an intimidating presence on the defensive end.
The 6-foot-8, 300-pound Smith did a little bit of everything while limping through the fourth quarter after he aggravated his injury late in the third period.
“I just kept telling myself 12 minutes, 12 minutes, 12 minutes. Like I said, my thing is, as much as it is easy for me to pack up my stuff and leave, I wanna keep playing. I came here with one goal and I’m so close so I gotta take it day by day,” said Smith, who is listed as day-to-day.
“Like I said, I have faith in my teammates it was like the Game 4 against Ginebra. I went out end of the third quarter. It’s a similar play and I came back, but I trust my teammates. You know what I’m saying? I got faith in them and I know they’re gonna go out there and handle their business.”
Game 2 is on Friday night and Smith’s status is up in the air again.
But one thing’s for sure, regardless of his health issues, he will be ready to play.