Smith makes second TNT stint

Hulking big man Joshua Smith is set to fill the void left by Jeremy Tyler in TNT, and hopefully, improve KaTropa’s Commissioner’s Cup finish in last season.

Team manager Virgil Villavicencio bared the development to the press shortly after TNT’s domination of Blackwater on Friday night.

Seattle-born Smith, aside from towing TNT to the Finals last year, can be most remembered for figuring in a bizarre semifinals tussle that involved a mid-game shoe delivery and a foot injury.

The 6-foot-9, 330-lb center is coming from a stint in Japan where he lent his wares to the Kyoto Hannaryz of the B.League. The team, ranked No. 7 in the league, was recently knocked out of semifinal contention by No. 3 Alvark Tokyo.

“Based on his schedule, we're really looking at the end of May, so during the All-Star break. They're already out in Japan," offered head coach Nash Racela.

“Sana mangyari uli ‘yung nagawa nya noong last time na nandito siya—which is [mapaabot] kami sa Finals,” chimed in KaTropa forward Troy Rosario. (I’m) hoping maging healthy siya.”

Smith was TNT’s final import in their 2017 Commissioner's Cup campaign, collecting nine wins and six losses including the six-game series against eventual titlists San Miguel Beer. He was the third reinforcement of the team in that conference.

Set to arrive on Friday, May 25, Smith replaces compatriot Tyler who averaged 12.2 points and 13.2 rebounds in four outings. The team parted ways with the latter after Sunday’s loss to Alaska and went import-less against the Elite.