It all boils down to execution.
That, for Scottie Thompson, is what makes the difference now that Ginebra and Meralco find themselves squaring off time and again in the PBA playoffs.
“I think it’s up na lang sa amin kung paano namin i-execute lahat ng gameplan, kasi nandiyan na yan lahat,” offered the former league MVP.
Both the Kings and the Bolts faced off Wednesday night to open their Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal series at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
The crowd darlings came away with the 100-92 decision to gain the head start in the best-of-3 affair — and extend their mastery of the MVP-owned club.
It could be recalled that the two met one another exactly a week ago in an elimination round encounter, with Ginebra escaping with the 91-87 win.
At that time, the rivals already knew they were finishing in the middle of the Final Eight and were bound to face each other anew in the quarters.
If ever you wonder when was the last time that these two duked it out in the playoffs, look no further than in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup.
There, the Barangay swept Meralco in the best-of-5 quarterfinal affair, and the present series already marks their 10th playoff meeting.
“Nagkakaamuyan na talaga,” disclosed Thompson, who finished with a 23-7-6 line in Wednesday’s win. “Medyo alam na namin ‘yung player tendencies.”
Given the amount of times they’ve played against each other, to say that they’re familiar with one another may sound like an understatement already.
Then again, it all comes down to running the sets and schemes and everything in between for Thompson and Co. if they are to come out triumphant.
“‘Yun na lang ‘yung key kung paano namin i-execute hard, especially sa defense ng Meralco na sobrang aggressive at physical,” he said.
