By JAY R. GOTERA
MANILA — Doing damage like the Hulk of Marvel fame, 6-foot-9, 330-pound Joshua Smith proved unstoppable as he led the TNT KaTropa Texters to a 100-94 win over the Barangay Ginebra Kings in Game 1 of their best-of-5 PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series Sunday night.
The hulking TNT import came off the bench to pour 35 points, 29 of them in the second half, shooting 16-of-22 from the field overall. Smith also finished with 13 rebounds, 11 of them on the offensive glass, along with four assists, and two steals in just 28 minutes.
Game 2 is set Tuesday night.
The Texters’ Rookie sensation Roger Pogoy was also a revelation, scoring seven straight unanswered points to start the game, and finishing with 17 markers to lead TNT’s locals. The Gilas player knocked down 3 triples, the last of which gave TNT a 95-90 lead late in the fourth quarter.
Ranidel de Ocampo added 12 markers, five boards, and three assists, also off the bench.
TNT veteran Jayson Castro scored only four points, and missed his first nine shots. But his clutch three-pointer from the top of the key, his only basket for the night with 14 ticks left, gave the Texters a 100-94 lead, virtually dashing Ginebra’s hope of stealing the game.
The Texters led from start to finish, frustrating the Kings’ every rally by relying mostly on the height and heft of Smith on both ends of the court.
Justin Brownlee, Ginebra’s import who stands only 6’5,” proved no match for the TNT giant. Brownlee paced the Kings with 24 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, two steals, and no turnovers, that all went down the drain.
Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio scored 15 points apiece while Kevin Ferrer and Joe Devance each had 10 markers.
Game Monday: Star Hotshots vs. San Miguel Beermen (best-of-5 semifinals; Star leads 1-0).
