Thompson has last laugh on Beermen in Ginebra's huge Game 5 win
MANILA, Philippines — Scottie Thompson was caught in June Mar Fajardo’s poster off a dunk in transition in Sunday night’s PBA Finals.
The MVP posterizes Scottie Thompson! Left-handed dunk off a @cmross6 pass! 83-78 in favor of @TheSMBeermen (4Q)! #PBA2018 https://t.co/FrDvcQaXBY
— Denison Rey Dalupang (@sonrd) August 5, 2018
He also fell with his hip first following a mid-air collission with the league’s Most Valuable Player.
But he went home with the last laugh.
Thompson, Barangay Ginebra’s raging-bull rebounding guard, stuck it to San Miguel Beer just as they were nurturing a slim lead in the final minute of Game Five. The third-year cager went on to pull the rug on the defending champions via the six points he scored in succession before LA Tenorio sealed the deal.
As if that wasn’t enough for the defending conference champions, Thompson also adorned his gritty performance with a double-double with 20 points and 11 boards.
“Scottie had a great everything game. Unbelievable. Rebounds early in the game, playing (Alex) Cabagnot all game long then picking up big, huge defensive rebounds down the stretch because Balkman and June Mar were killing us on the boards. Our big guys were trying to keep them out, and it was up to Scottie to go and get to the boards and get those rebounds, and he did. Amazingly,” Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone said.
The league’s winningest coach and the architect of two Grand Slams said Thomspon reminds him of NBA star and its former MVP in Russell Westbrook.
“I’ve said it a year ago, maybe longer than that, but he reminds me of Westbrook,” Cone offered. “ I think he's gonna end up playing like that, eventually. He's still very young, and he's playing with a lot of veterans. Sooner or later, he's gonna become the veteran, and then everybody will look up to him. Right now he's still looking up to his veterans, and playing smart and winning basketball.”
Cone made the proclamations just as Thompson making his way into the press room.
During his turn to address the media, the 25-year-old Davao del Sur native played the praises down, saying he was just lucky against a stacked Beermen who they were playing on the grandest stage of the conference.
“Sobrang lucky lang kasi ‘yun nga, ‘yung defense namin, talagang grind-out. ‘Yung mga shoot ko sa bandang huli, I think, lucky shots na lang ‘yun,” he offered. “We really needed this game, gusto naming i-panalo ‘to so thankfully, ‘yun (nangyari).”
Thompson went on to add that he “works hard everytime” and that he looks to up the ante everytime he’s on the court.
“Gusto ko, aggressive every time sa offense and defense — hustling, (grabbing) offensive rebounds, defending — ‘yan ‘yung pinaka-best way na tulong ko sa team,” he closed.
In closing, Thompson said is just grateful to be right in the smack of all of this.
“Sobrang laking experience para sakin playing sa Finals. Andami kong matutunan dito early in my career. Sana madala ko — hopefully soon. Sobrang blessed and thankful kay God.”
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