Scottie Thompson will remain with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel for the long haul after signing a three-year max extension, Friday.
“Maraming Salamat Boss Al!” the do-it-all guard wrote on Facebook along with a photo of him and San Miguel Corp. sports director Alfrancis Chua, who also serves as the governor of the league’s most popular ball club.
His old contract would have expired this August, making him an unrestricted free agent. Both parties, though, decided not to wait anymore. The Gin Kings have secured the 27-year-old’s services until 2025.
The Barangay’s fifth overall pick in 2015 has emerged as one of its star players, having led the franchise to a total of five championships. He also bagged the 2018 Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP honors.
The former NCAA MVP out of Perpetual played a major role in Ginebra’s conquest of the uber-challenging 2020 Philippine Cup, where they ended their 13-year all-Filipino title drought at the expense of TNT.
In that best-of-seven series that lasted five games, the 6-foot-1 Thompson averaged 8.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists.
He also received the Sportsmanship Award at season’s end, adding to his list of accolades that include an All-Rookie Team citation, Most Improved Player honors, Mythical Second Team inclusion, and four All-Star nods.
This extension marks yet another huge W for Thompson this 2021. At the start of the year, he proposed to his long-time girlfriend Pau Fajardo.
On Ginebra’s end, meanwhile, this is yet another activity in what has been a busy offseason for the team.
After picking up MJ Ayaay from the free agent pool last February, the Gin Kings traded away long-time pillar Greg Slaughter to NorthPort in exchange for another former BPC in Christian Standhardinger last week.
And on the same day of Thompson’s signing, the team sent Jerrick Balanza to the Batang Pier in another trade. Both teams also swapped their second-round picks for the much-anticipated Rookie Draft this Sunday.
Ginebra sent the incoming sophomore forward out of Letran and its 24th overall pick in exchange for the 13th selection. This means the Barangay will have back-to-back picks as it owns the no. 12 pick in the first round.
