Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Scottie Thompson on game-winner: ‘Si God na ang naka-shoot nun’


feeSMART CLARK GIGA CITY — Barangay Ginebra San Miguel owned yet another chapter of its storied rivalry with Meralco, Friday night, marking the fourth time in four years that it has asserted mastery of the Bolts.

And this latest episode ended the same way it did back in 2016.

Scottie Thompson had his own Justin Brownlee moment, nailing a corner triple with only half a second remaining to tow the Gin Kings to a thrilling 83-80 victory and on to the 2020 PBA Philippine Cup Finals.

“Sobrang nagpapasalamat kami kay God, especially ‘yung last tira ko. Talagang tinira ko na lang kasi wala nang oras. And good thing talagang pinasa ni Prince [Caperal] kasi medyo open din ako sa corner,” said Thompson.

“So tinira ko lang, and si God na ang naka-shoot nun.”

That shot capped off yet another all-around performance for Thompson, who finished with 20 points on a 46-percent clip. He also had 12 rebounds, seven assists, and a steal in over 38 minutes of action.

Coach Tim Cone, meanwhile, simply feels proud to witness the 27-year-old come up with such a heroic act. He also lauded the unselfishness of his chargers that led to the game-winning bucket.

The two-time Grand Slam winner addmited that they originally intended to go to Stanley Pringle to break the 80-all deadlock with 14.5 ticks left. But Meralco’s defense caught up, making him pass the rock to Prince Caperal on the left.

Caperal looked to take the shot, but Cliff Hodge was quick to react. Then Caperal immediately located Thompson with enough space on the left corner, so he dished it out to him for the booming trey.

#ReadMore  Tim Cone, Ginebra leaves Mark Caguioa's fate to him: 'It's not our call'

“Wow,” he expressed. “I mean, it was amazing for Scottie. Scottie deserves that shot. He deserves all the recognition, all the laurels. He deserves it because there’s nobody who works harder than him. I’m really happy for Scottie.

“Prince made a very unselfish play. The play was designed for Stanley, and Stanley gave it up to Prince, and Prince gave it up to Scottie, and Scottie hit the shot. I’d like to think that that’s where we’re all about, that unselfishness.”

For Thompson, the Finals-clinching triumph — which enabled the Barangay to return to the Philippine Cup finale after three years — has made all their hard work and sacrifice worth it.

“Lahat ng ginagawa namin before ng bubble na ‘to, talagang nag-pay off. Sobrang saya kasi Finals na ulit, All-Filipino, ito talaga ‘yung pinakahinahangad namin as a team. And siyempre, ‘yung mga fans talaga,” he said.

“Our job is not yet done.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.




You May Also Like

Basketball

June Mar Fajardo, the eight-time MVP, and Scottie Thompson, the 2021 MVP, headline a new wave of basketball immortals as they lead the next...

Basketball

The recently-concluded TNT-Barangay Ginebra title showdown in the 2024-25 PBA Commissioner’s Cup was a massive success — not just in ticket sales, but also...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee is once again facing scrutiny after receiving a notice of an adverse analytical finding, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas confirmed in a...

Basketball

It needed one more game and five extra minutes to settle, yet the result remained the same — TNT kept its mastery of Ginebra...

Basketball

Japeth Aguilar defended his decision to take the three-pointer during such a critical juncture of Barangay Ginebra’s eventual defeat to TNT in Game 6...

Basketball

Poy Erram was redemption personified after towing TNT past Barangay Ginebra in a thriller, 87-83, to force the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals...

Basketball

Six minutes may be too short of playing time for some, but that meant everything for Ginebra as it knows what it’s getting from...

Basketball

Justin Brownlee would clearly prefer to play without any restrictions, but he’s starting to get the hang of playing with his right thumb all...

Advertisement