Greg Smith finds out PBA’s ‘physicality’ first-hand after hearing it from Ivan Johnson, Daniel Orton
PBA Media Bureau Blackwater import Greg Smith is a well-travelled player, having played in the NBA, Mexico and Turkey. But he had not known about the PBA until hearing it from fellow journeymen Ivan Johnson and Daniel Orton, two players who had stints in the league. “I had a couple of guys that played here before. Those two guys, Ivan Johnson and Daniel Orton, told me about this league,” Smith told InterAksyon.com in an exclusive interview. Johnson and Orton had controversial stints in the PBA. Johnson received a one-season ban last year after cursing at commissioner Chito Narvasa during a game. Orton meanwhile was fined P250,000 in 2015 for his tirades at the league and Mahindra’s listed player-coach Manny Pacquiao. After playing three games for the Elite, Smith now has experienced first-hand the brand of Philippine basketball his two friends had told him about. “They told me it’s very physical. The guys who were here, they told me playing one-on-one is a tough match-up because all these guys (PBA players) were good. I was able to find that out today.” Smith said adjusting to the PBA wasn’t difficult. “The coaches are basically helping me out, like the feel of the game and the referees on how we should play,” he said. On Sunday, Smith had solid numbers of 34 points and 20 rebounds although he failed to give Blackwater a win over Rain or Shine. Remaining winless in the conference is “tough”, but Smith believes Blackwater can bounce back by ironing out the “little things.” “It was tough. Rain or Shine made tough shots in the end and kept battling us. We thought we had it and in the last two minutes they made two clutch treys,” said Smith. “I think we just have to go out there and capitalize in the fourth quarter, plays like we’re making our own, like little things – finishing free throws, defensive assignments, stuff like that – but in the practice this week, I think we can develop more chemistry and get better. This game will help us get that first win.” http://j.mp/2n5yvEU
