TNT KaTropa import Joshua Smith put the blame on the team’s crushing defeat in Game 2 not only to San Miguel Beer’s air-tight defense but also for their failure to control their emotions.
And their seeming lack of energy, too.
“We’re the more aggressive team in the first game and we won. They’re the more aggressive team in this game. It’s a seven-game series, now it’s five,” added Smith, who buried the game-winning basket in Game 1.
Despite playing hurt, Smith used his “truck-like” body to bulldoze his way past his defenders for 21 points and 9 boards in Game 1.
But last Friday, he was held to only eight attempts – a clear victim of San Miguel double and sometimes triple defense.
“It’s a seven-game series. We lost one game. It’s funny because we win close games and the games we lose, we get blown out. If that’s an indication right there, we want to come back ready for Game 3,” he said after the team’s 102-88 loss.
“I’ve seen double teams since I came here, since the last game. Nothing can really surprise me. They play harder and they deserve to win,” said Smith, who scored just 11 points with six rebounds and five assists on nearly 18 minutes of off the bench action.
Aside from controlling the shaded area, Smith said they also have to keep their emotions in check after rookie guard Roger Pogoy was ejected with a Flagrant Foul Penalty 2 in the third quarter.
Smith himself was assessed with a technical foul in the second period of Game 2.
“We can’t control how the refs ref the game. Like I said, we all feel different about the refs, we can’t control what they do, and I told the guys that we got to go out here like they’re out there,” he said.
“We’ve got to control the game. They make the calls, whether right or wrong, so we got to keep playing,” added Smith, who is still bothered by a right foot injury due to a tear between his fourth and fifth toes.