IT wasn’t the comeback Scottie Thompson was expecting, but nonetheless good enough to get him back in shape for the tougher battles ahead.
After more than a month of rest recovering from a hamstring injury, the former MVP finally returned to action for Barangay Ginebra Friday night in his first game in the PBA 50th Season Governors Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Meralco, though, was not in the mood to roll down the red carpet for the comebacking Thompson, as the Bolts dealt the Gin Kings a 97-88 beating in import Jordan Varnado’s debut game.
The 33-year-old Thompson himself struggled from the floor where he shot 1-of-6 overall to finish with four points, six rebounds, and five assists in his first game back since the deciding Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup finals against TNT.
Nonetheless, getting back to the active roster by the end of the first round of eliminations was also his way of trying to be in shape for Gilas Pilipinas’ coming campagn in the FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian qualifiers and the 20th Asian Games.
“Kailangan ko ring makundisyon and get in shape kasi who knows, prepare na rin ito sa Gilas,” he said. “Malaking bagay sa akin ito as preparation sa practices with Gilas.”
Just in case
Thompson is not expecting anything, but the Ginebra guard has been a constant fixture in national team rosters under coach Tim Cone.
“Kung mapasama, why not,” said the former NCAA MVP out of Perpetual. “Of course, nandun naman ako, willing to help anything for the national team.”
Thompson said his hamstring is ‘getting better’ now and used the game against Meralco as gauge on whether he can already play competitively.
The Gin Kings' do-it-all player sustained the injury during the Comm's Cup playoffs, as it eventually kept him out of Gilas duties during the third window of qualifiers held in Auckland, New Zealand, and Perth, Australia.
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