AFTER skipping the last window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers, Scottie Thompson has regained his spot in Gilas Pilipinas’ final 12-man roster coming to its game against Jordan over the weekend at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Back in the pink of health, the Barangay Ginebra guard made it back to the national team lineup, as he shares the backcourt anew with Dwight Ramos, Chris Newsome, and Juan Gomez de Liano in the Philippines’ crucial bid to turn its campaign around heading to the second round of the Asian qualifiers.
READ: Kai, Dwight, Scottie banner Brownlee-less Gilas vs Jordan
A hamstring injury grounded the 33-year-old Thompson from suiting up in Gilas’ campaign in the third window that saw the country lose back-to-back games on the road to New Zealand and Australia.
Of course, Thompson said he can’t say no to the call for flag and country.
“As long as I’m healthy (and) 100-percent, I will always say yes para sa bayan,” said the former PBA MVP.
“I’m truly privileged na makapaglaro para sa bayan. We know not everyone ay nagkakaroon ng ganitong opportunity.”
Scottie's road back to health
Playing hurt and limping since the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup playoffs, including the grueling seven-game title series against TNT, Thompson deemed it best to skip the third window last month to fully rest and recover from his hamstring injury.
He likewise sat out the Gin Kings' first five games of the season-ending Governors’ Cup, and didn’t return to action until their most recent outing against Meralco in a 97-88 loss.
Thompson struggled in his return by shooting 1-of-6 from the field for four points, while adding six rebounds and five assists.
But the game served as his way of feeling the game again, as he tried to shake off the cobwebs of more than a month of inactivity.
“Kapag hamstring kailangan mo talaga ipahinga,” said Thompson.
Not as fortunate was fellow Ginebra teammate and naturalized player Justin Brownlee, whose similar hamstring injury, coupled by a hurting knee, kept him from joining the team in this window that will also see Gilas battles Iran on Sunday.
“Mahirap i-fill up yung spot ni Justin with just one guy. We need to step up, each and every one sa amin. It’s going to be a collective and team effort para sa amin,” he said.
“We all know talagang malaking bagay si Justin, but we need to face that reality right now na wala siya ngayon.”
As for his health situation, the Davao Del Sur native said he’s not fully recovered from his injury.
“Ok naman, 100-percent better. Wala namang sumsaskit,” he said. “Ready to go, I think everyone sa amin ready na.”
The Gilas-Jordan match will be played at 8:30 p.m.
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