The San Miguel Beermen is scheduled for 2017 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals Game 1 against the Talk ‘N Text KaTropa Texters at 7:00 P.M. on June 21, 2017 in Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Both the Beermen and KaTropa won their respective semi-finals series after dispatching its opponent via 3-1 record.
San Miguel eliminated Star after losing in Game 1 and Talk ‘N Text able to survive Ginebra despite of having an import playing below his 100%.
Last time these two teams went head-to-head were minus their ace players. Both Jayson Castro and June Mar Fajardo was with Gilas Pilipinas for the 2017 SEABA Championships. Josh Smith was yet to arrive in the country as he was still completing his commitment with his NBA D-League team.
Most PBA fans are anticipating and the expectations are high for the Fajardo-vs-Smith matchup. Fajardo most likely coming in to this PBA Finals well prepared after his successful campaign against the Star tireless import, Ricardo Ratliffe.
“Okay ‘yan, si Smith ang gamitin nila. Lalong mai-injure yan defending June Mar,” said an SMB insider, noting the shiftiness of the San Miguel star center.
For the KaTropa, there’s good news for them. It appears that their “Jumbotron” is able to stick with them in the entire series. Of course, with the impressive tactics of coach Nash Racela. Smith is playing a limited and well planned minutes, since their game against the Meralco Bolts he always coming off the bench.
Despite of the earlier reported Smith injury, the team appears wanted to play along with him. Changing import at this time probably isn’t the best option. Coach Franz Pumaren of GlobalPort BatangPier thinks so.
“If they change their import, it’s a matter of adjustments,” said GlobalPort coach Franz Pumaren.
However, the real condition of TNT import is one of the mysteries coach Leo Austria need to discover.
“We don’t know whom we’re preparing for. We may be preparing for Josh Smith and it would turn out that we would face Myers. So we can really figure them out only after Game One,” said SMB coach Leo Austria.