What began as a fierce rivalry in the PBA between Ginebra and San Miguel has now spilled onto the international stage.
Scottie Thompson and Jericho Cruz, two of the league’s top guards, faced off once again — but this time, representing different countries in the opening game of Window 1 of the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
The matchup between Gilas Pilipinas and Guam offered a rare mix of nostalgia and national pride.
For Cruz, it was his first time playing against the country of his birth. And he made an immediate statement, exploding for 13 points in the opening quarter on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting clip, keeping Guam in step with the Philippines at 17-all.
But Thompson, renowned for his defensive prowess, took control in the second half.
He held Cruz to just 17 points on 7-of-20 shooting, a key factor in Gilas’ dominant 87-46 victory on Friday at the Calvo Fieldhouse.
Even amid the win, Thompson was quick to acknowledge his longtime friend and rival.
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“I am pretty much excited to play against him. I know he’s a very tough player, he’s ready for this, and I’m really glad and happy that he’s playing really well for Guam,” Thompson said.
Thompson finished with seven points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
“Coach Tim Cone just said we had to step up on our defense, especially against Jericho Cruz. He played really well in the first half, and we needed someone to contain him. We played as a team defensively, and I think that was the key. If we play defense like that, we’re good,” he added.
Even Coach Tim Cone, a 25-time PBA champion with two Grand Slams, lauded Cruz’s performance in the FIBA-sanctioned debut between the two guards.
For Cone, the matchup felt familiar — Cruz and Thompson’s competitiveness on the court still mirrored the intensity of their PBA rivalry.
“Back home, these guys play in rival teams and face each other all the time. It was nothing new for Scottie to go up against him. There’s always great motivation in matchups like this,” Cone said.
“Jericho was motivated, and Scottie was motivated to defend him in the second half.”
