After eight long and agonizing years, Barangay Ginebra just recently got back on top and ended its dry spell in the Philippine Basketball Association.
One major reason why the Gin Kings were able to reach the Promised Land again was the quick emergence of rising star Scottie Thompson.
The former NCAA Most Valuable Player and the fifth pick from last year’s draft was a vital cog in Ginebra’s journey towards reclaiming glory as he was consistently effective as a starter in Ginebra coach Tim Cone’s new and dynamic attack.
He was entrusted with a big responsibility right away and though he is shy as a person, he didn’t shy away from taking the challenge and helping the Gin Kings end their championship drought by winning the recently concluded 2016 PBA Governors’ Cup crown.
In just his first season, the do-it-all guard from Davao had already showed what he’s capable ofand there’s no wonder why Ginebra coaches, teammates and fans are very high on him.
The product of University of Perpetual Help not only made the All-Star team, but he was also named as a starter in the annual affair, where he also became the first rookie since Johnny Abarrientos to register a triple-double. He did it again in the big stage, in Game 3 of Ginebra’s semifinal clash against San Miguel.
All of that was only topped by Ginebra’s championship win several days ago, making Thompson a champion in just his first year as a pro.
Just recently, Cone, the one responsible for picking Thompson for the Gin Kings in the draft, commended the young Thompson and stated that he indeed is a star in the league even this early.
“Scottie is being Scottie,” described Cone, pertaining to Thompson just playing up to his potential and abilities. “His basketball IQ along with his skills are really special. He’s playing like a veteran for a rookie.”
The work ethic of Thompson is one thing that gets his game consistently going, according to Cone. “Everything that Scottie is enjoying now, he’s definitely earned it. I can tell you that.”
Moving forward, Cone said that he wants Thompson to even be more aggressive as he knows that he has a lot more to flaunt.
“We all really want Scottie (Thompson) to be aggressive even more. Sometimes, we beg him to take more shots and be more assertive. We all know he can show more than what he is already showing at this point.”
Now, it seems that Thompson had just cemented himself as the heir apparent to the Ginebra throne once legends Mark Caguioa, Jayajay Helterbrand and LA Tenorio are all done with their careers.
It is now clear that sky is the limit for Thompson. And thousands of Ginebra fans are counting on him to help continue the team’s rich legacy moving forward.