Scottie Thompson scored just one point on Friday night, but his fingerprints were all over Gilas Pilipinas’ thrilling 82-81 victory over Jordan to get back on track in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers.
While his scoring numbers barely registered, Thompson made his presence felt in nearly every other facet of the game. And his performance helped Gilas contain Jordan’s backcourt while making the crucial plays that ultimately swung the game in the Philippines’ favor.
Alongside CJ Perez and Dwight Ramos, Thompson played a key defensive role in slowing down Jalen Harris and Freddy Ibrahim.
Harris, a former Toronto Raptor, was held to just 6-of-22 shooting for 19 points and managed only five points in the second half and overtime — four in extra time.
For Gilas head coach Tim Cone, it was another showcase of what he calls the “Scottie Things” that have made Thompson one of the national team’s most valuable players.
The 6-foot guard has often faced criticism for his inconsistent shooting, turnovers, and lack of a traditional point guard skill set. Had Gilas fallen on Friday, his inbound violation with less than 10 seconds left in the game.
Cone, however, believes those perceived shortcomings often overshadow everything else Thompson brings to the floor.
“You know, people kinda give Scottie a hard time ‘cause he’s not a great shooter, he’s not a true point guard, he’ll make a turnover here and there. But they dismiss all the other stuff that he does,” he said.
Whether it is crashing the boards, diving for loose balls, defending opposing guards, or helping his team get into its offensive sets, Thompson has built his reputation around doing whatever the possession demands.
That was precisely what he provided against Jordan.
In addition to his one point, the 33-year-old former PBA MVP finished with four rebounds, three assists, and a steal, making his impact felt despite a quiet offensive night.
“As we know in the PBA, we call them ‘Scottie Things.’ He does all the ‘Scottie Things,’” Cone said.
“He gets the rebounds, he gets the loose balls, he defends, he knows how to get teams into execution.”
That does not mean Thompson is incapable of creating offense himself.
Cone pointed out that the guard can still hit big shots and attack the basket when needed. However, his greatest value often comes from understanding when to rely on the players around him.
“He will make big shots or get to the rim when he needs to, but he really relies on his teammates a lot to get shots,” Cone added.
Thompson’s performance was even more impressive given that he was still working his way back from a serious hamstring injury. Cone revealed just how severe the injury had been, recalling the bruising that Thompson had suffered during his recovery.
“He came off a really bad hamstring injury, really bad. You could see the bruising on the outside of his leg. It took him a while to recover,” he shared.
Despite the lengthy rehabilitation, Thompson delivered when Gilas needed him most — not through scoring, but through the hustle, defense, rebounding, and playmaking that have become synonymous with his game.
“Really crucial to our success tonight.”
