AS promised, Scottie Thompson showed up in Gilas Pilipinas' practice on Monday night at the Meralco gym.
It was the first time Thompson attended the national team practice since returning from its European training camp where he suffered a metacarpal fracture in his right hand.
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The Barangay Ginebra guard though, didn't join the team scrimmage and just watched his teammates play from the sidelines.
The reigning PBA MVP's return brings to 17 the Gilas players in practice with more than a month to go before the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
He joined June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, CJ Perez, Kiefer Ravena, Poy Erram, RR Pogoy, AJ Edu, Ray Parks, Rhenz Abando, Jamie Malonzo, Calvin Oftana, Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos and Chris Newsome and naturalized players Justin Brownlee and Ange Kouame.
With 17 players in attendance, Kai Sotto, Jordan Clarkson, and Jordan Heading are the only members of the original pool still unaccounted for weeks before the team leaves for China for a series of tune-up games.
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Like Thompson, Pogoy, Ramos, Oftana, Parks and Edu dealt with injuries in the buildup to the global showpiece which the Philippines is co-hosting with Japan and Indonesia beginning on August 25.
Thompson's injured right hand was still wrapped in bandage as he's set to undergo another X-ray by next week.
“Actually may target ng date, pero titingnan pa rin next week, mag-X-ray ulit ako kung ano yung progress. And then yun ang final kung kelan talaga,” said Thompson.
“Yung normal na ganito sabi nila usually four to six weeks. Pero so far, based sa second X-tray ko dito sa Manila, mas mabilis yung healing niya. Kaya good news para sa akin yun.”
Thompson said he keeps himself in shape despite the injury.
“Stay ready pa rin ako, stay in shape all the time,” he added. “Hindi ko kasi alam kung hanggang kailan talaga gagaling. So malay natin mapabilis pa yung healing niya.”
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