CRUCIAL DECISION

Game Tomorrow
(Smart Araneta Coliseum)
7 p.m. – San Miguel Beer vs TNT KaTropa

Down for the first time in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals, TNT KaTropa team officials are working on all the requirements of Mike Myers as coaching staff makes a decision by 12 noon on Tuesday on whether or not to play a new import in time for Game 4 of the best-of-seven series.

Joshua Smith played the first three games and helped the Texters win the series opener, but after back-to-back losses and with TNT now trailing powerhouse San Miguel Beer, coach Nash Racela is now contemplating on tapping Myers.

Myers flew in more than a week ago supposedly to replace Smith in the Final Four series with Barangay Ginebra after the 6-foot-9, 330-pound big man tore ligaments in his right foot.

But Smith found ways to plod on and was even one of the heroes in a 104-102 Game 1 win over the Beermen as he repaid his local teammates in kind after they had asked Racela to give him the chance to play in the title series.

Myers, should he be tapped, will be measured for the 6-foot-10 height limit hours before the 7 p.m. tip off of Game 4 on Wednesday at Smart Araneta Coliseum, though team officials are confident that he will easily make the grade.

Meanwhile, San Miguel coach Leo Austria said after a 109-97 Game 3 win that it would be “better” for TNT to replace Smith, since the Beermen have won the last two games with a lot of authority.

Both teams will be coming off a break on Monday, with TNT coaching staff meeting for most of the day to discuss whether or not they will replace Smith.

Myers will have the benefit of just one practice, to be held Tuesday, before he plunges into action as he tries to help the Texters avoid being put in a 1-3 hole against the consensus team to beat in the tournament.