Scottie Thompson had just suffered his first pro-league career cramp injury, but it hardly mattered, as he still went on to have his best game thus far in his blossoming PBA career.
Fresh from a breakout year highlighted by a Mythical Second Team selection and a Most Improved Player of the Year award, the 25-year old, do-it-all guard continues to cement his status as the best up-and-coming cager today, even with rare cramp injury
Thompson dropped a career-high of 27 points to go along 11 rebounds, five assists and a block in almost 42 minutes of action — all while fighting cramps late in the regulation in the epic down-the-wire Manila Clasico.
“Ever since college, first time ko mag-cramps. ‘Di ko alam kung bakit,” said Thompson, who admitted being rattled, as he has no knowledge how to treat it – especially at the height of the grind-out game against the rivals Hotshots.
“’Di ko alam gagawin kasi first time ko talaga. ‘Di ko alam. Credit talaga sa mga PT namin. Sila may alam paano maka-recover sa cramps”
Thompson was subbed out late in the regulation. He then served as a spectator to the heroics of his good friend and collegiate rival Jio Jalalon, who nailed back-to-back treys 0 including the game-tying triple in the last 4.2 seconds to force overtime.
Apparently, Jalalon’s outburst only fueled Thompson to come back despite the injury. And they brought the whole Big Dome into another dimension, as if he and Jalalalon had traveled back to their NCAA days, with an epic shootout.
After Jalalon’s turn, Thompson took the most out of his chance. He drilled a go-ahead trey at the 1:51 mark of overtime, then dished a perfect dime to Japeth Aguilar in transition to make it 96-91 for Ginebra, which proved to be the deciding run in the classic Manila Clasico duel.
“Nakakatuwa kasi parang NCAA din dati, Yung match-up namin nakaka-motivate,” the Perpetual standout and the NCAA Season 90 Seniors Basketball MVP said.
“Nakakaganda din kasi naisip ko parang NCAA lang to dati. Nakaka-motivate! Tasaka nung nag-cramps ako, gusto kong pumasok agad. Sinabihan rin ako ni coach Tim Cone kung kaya ko pumasok.”
Coincidentally, Jalalon also got hurt late in the third after a scary fall, though it ended up sparking his takeover as he went on to finish with 22 points — all in the second half.
For Thompson, that was just proof of Jalalon’s heart – and his as well, especially with both of them figuring in countless collegiate wars which molded them into the warriors they are today.
“Ganun naman sya NCAA pa lang. Inexpect ko na yun kasi motivated siya kasi Manila Clasico. Ganun din sa akin.”
