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PSN Palaro

Nasa likod ng ‘The Last Dance’ documentary series naging PBA import

Russell Cadayona - Pilipino Star Ngayon

MANILA, Philippines  — Siya ang nasa likod ng blockbuster sports documentary series na ‘The Last Dance’ na nagtampok kay legendary Michael Jordan at sa pagtarget ng Chicago Bulls sa kanilang ikaanim at huling NBA championship noong 1997-98 season.

Ngunit may sarili ring kuwento si Andy Thompson, dating import ng Tanduay Rhum Masters sa Philippine Basketball Association.

Bagama’t nabigong maigiya ang Rhum Masters sa korona ng 1986 PBA Open Conference ay hindi naman niya makakalimutan ang paglalaro niya sa liga.

“To me, it was the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball in my life,” wika ni Thompson, ang kapatid ni   two-time NBA champion Mychal Thompson at tiyuhin ni Golden State sharp shooter Klay Thompson, sa isang episode ng Republika Huddle na ipinoste ng NBA Philippines.

Nakapasok ang Tanduay sa semifinals, ngunit natalo sa Great Taste para sa third place trophy na nagpaguho sa kanilang tsansa sa PBA Grand Slam matapos pag­harian ang Reinforced at All-Filipino tournaments.

Sa nasabing Open Conference ay nagkaroon si Thompson ng partially torn ACL injury na tuluyan nang tumapos sa kanyang playing career.

Sa kanyang pagbabalik sa U.S ay sumabak siya sa television production sa NBA Entertainment kung saan siya naging NBA Entertainment vice president for production at executive producer ng ‘The Last Dance”.

Dalawa sa mga naging kakampi ni Thompson sa Rhum Masters ay sina four-time PBA MVP Ramon Fernandez at Freddie Hubalde.

Nakatuwang ni Thompson, nagtala ng mga averages na 20 points at 13 rebounds, para sa Tanduay si import Rob Williams at nakatapat sina Billy Ray Bates at Michael Hackett na nagbigay sa Ginebra ng titulo.

“There was a guy in the league back then, who was named Billy Ray Bates, the Black Superman,” ani Thompson. “There was nobody who could stop that guy. He was dominant.”

Matapos ang mahigit dalawang dekada bilang isang retiradong player ay nakabalik si Thompson sa bansa para gawan ng dokumentaryo ang unang NBA pre-season game sa pagitan ng Indiana Pacers at Houston Rockets noong 2013 sa MOA Arena.

ANDY THOMPSON

Philstar
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