Barangay Ginebra hopes to have Scottie Thompson in time for its 2021 HondaPBA Philippine Cup quarterfinal match with TNT next week.
The do-it-all guard remains under the league’s health and safety protocols. Head coach Tim Cone wishes to have him back either on Tuesday, or even hours before their do-or-die clash with the top seed on Wednesday.
“We’re hoping we might be able to get him Tuesday or Wednesday,” said the veteran mentor Saturday evening, moments after the Gin Kings beat Phoenix Super LPG to secure the eighth and final ticket to the quarters.
“But we’re not sure – we have to check with the PBA with the medical procedures and such and see if we can get him back,” he added.
Thompson has been out since the Barangay took on rivals Meralco last Thursday. And they badly missed his presence, losing 79-66.
His absence also meant the end of his personal streak of consecutive games played. According to league stats chief Fidel Mangonon III, the 28-year-old saw action in 254 straight games until he missed the Bolts match.
Prior to his absence, the one-time Finals MVP had per-game averages of 12.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.5 blocks.
But barring any hitches, he could be back next week. And his team needs all the help it can get in its title retention bid, now that it is without Japeth Aguilar for the rest of the conference due to a knee injury.
So despite the short amount of time that he’ll rejoin Ginebra, Cone has full belief that Thompson will be able to deliver right away.
“We just have our fingers crossed. But he’s the kind of guy that if he comes up, he’s gonna keep himself in shape doing something down there. And if he can come up and play he’ll be great right away,” he said.
“If he arrives an hour before the game, he’ll still play 30 minutee. He finds a way. Hopefully, we can get him back up and help us out.”
