Scottie Thompson was all over the place on Wednesday night at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, so much so that he ended the night with a triple-double – his third in his young PBA career.
Thompson finished with 12 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to help the Gin Kings collect their third straight win at the expense of Ronald Tubid and the Columbian Dyip, 134-107.
For the 24-year-old utility guard, the triple-double and the streak-extending win all came from treating the game as if it is already a playoff.
“Talagang sobrang importante na sa’min every game. Kailangan playoff mentality kami kasi isang mali lang namin tatagilid kami sa playoffs,” said Thompson, who was adjudged as the Player of the Game.
Thompson’s statement is accurate. Had they lost to Dyip, Ginebra would have fallen to 3-6, significantly hurting their aspirations of advancing in the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup playoffs.
But with the way they’re playing, the future looks bright. At 4-5, Ginebra have created a three-way tie with the Magnolia Hotshots and the GlobalPort Batang Pier in the sixth spot of the team standings.
And the Barangay have strengthened lately with their acquisition of veteran sniper Jeff Chan, who debuted on Wednesday night and had four points, three boards, two dimes, and a steal.
“Hindi pa masyado rito pero sa practice talagang naramdaman namin yung pag-spread ng floor. Even sa practice ang taas ng respeto namin kay Kuya Jeff,” said Thompson of his new teammate.
Now, Thompson hopes that he and Ginebra will be able to sustain their run, as they gun for a favorable spot in the mid-season conference’s next phase, which is just a few weeks from now.
“Sana magtuloy-tuloy, and sana dito namin maipakita yung never-say-die spirit namin.”
