There was never any doubt in Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone’s mind about Scottie Thompson’s potential on the international stage.
Thompson had seen his play at the international level heavily criticized after an underwhelming campaign in the FIBA World Cup last year.
However, he helped the Philippines secure its first-ever victory over the Tall Blacks, 91-84, in the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers on Thursday night.
After limited opportunities in the Nationals’ blowout victories over Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, Thompson had his best game so far in the tournament against New Zealand.
He recorded 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds.
“I remember a time – and I remember this time very distinctly – when there was a lot of talk about Scottie [Thompson] not being able to play at the international level,” said Cone, who has been working with Thompson at Ginebra since 2015.
“I don’t know if you guys remember that, but there were a lot of people saying he can’t play at the international level because he can’t shoot. But in my mind, there was never any doubt. In his mind, there was never any doubt.”
The former PBA MVP even made one of the biggest plays in the tight match. He delivered the perfect pass to Chris Newsome, who drained a crucial three-pointer that put the Philippines up, 91-84, with less than two minutes left in the game.
Cone said the impact of the two-time PBA Best Player of the Conference is unparalleled. The coach highlighted the intangibles that Thompson brings every time he’s on the court – whether it’s diving for loose balls, locking down the opposing team’s main offensive threat, or leaping for rebounds.
Add to that his precise playmaking, improved shooting, and impeccable play around the rim, and Cone firmly believes that Thompson has a rightful place on the international stage.
“The thing with Scottie is you can look at videos all you want, but until you actually get on the floor and play against him, you can’t realize what he’s doing out there for you… In terms of rebound, I mean in terms of tremendous rebounding, I think that’s what gets the most attention,” said Cone.
“But his defense is spot on, his hustle on the defensive side is spot on, and he’s really, really worked hard on improving his shot,” he went on.
“He’s not a guy that you could just step off of anymore, and his ability to get to the rim and create has always been there. He’s been that triple-double machine ever since he was at Perpetual.”
While Thompson’s impressive play may have surprised non-believers, Cone reiterated that it was no surprise to him or the rest of Gilas Pilipinas.
“To me, it’s not a surprise, but just because it’s not a surprise doesn’t make it any less amazing. It’s still amazing, the things he does, but it’s not a surprise to us. It’s not a surprise to Kai [Sotto] and all of his teammates.”
