SCOTTIE Thompson deflected the credit to Justin Brownlee after hitting the game-winning three-pointer for Barangay Ginebra against San Miguel on Sunday.
Thompson drained a corner three from the left corner over the outstretched arm of SMB import Devon Scott with 4.8 seconds left to cap Ginebra's thrilling comeback from 19 points down, 97-96, against the Beermen.
[READ: Scottie trey caps thrilling Ginebra comeback vs SMB]
But while he made the biggest shot of the game, Thompson thanked Brownlee for the trust and confidence, revealing that the Barangay Ginebra import himself gave him the ball for the last shot.
“Si Justin talaga nag-plano nun,” said Thompson. “Sabi ko kay Justin nung jumpball, kapag nakuha niya ‘yung bola, naka-plan na ita-tap sa kanya. Sabi ko sa kanya, pagkakuha niya ng bola, screen agad ako sa kanya.”
“Pero sabi niya, no, no, no. You go straight to the corner. I got you,” said Thompson.
Brownlee explained his reason behind the decision to give the ball to Thompson, saying that he has been noticing that the defense was ganging up on him when he has the possession, instead of Thompson.
Brownlee said Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone also opted not to call a timeout and let them come up with the possible final play of the game.
“I can tell the way they were defending. If the ball came to me, no one is guarding Scottie. I think it was [Jericho] Cruz who was between us. I ask coach if he wanted to take a timeout or if we see something, take it. He said, if we see something, take it.”
“I see him. That’s the MVP. You have to have confidence in him,” said Brownlee.

Thompson said he was also surprised by Brownlee’s plan.
“Sabi ko, wow. Ganda ng tiwala at na-boost ‘yung kumpiyansa ko. Naging ready ako dun sa corner shot na ‘yun. Coming from Justin, ‘yung import namin, ‘yung tiwala niya,” said Thompson.
Thompson’s game-winner also evoked memories of a similar corner three from the left side in Game Five of the 2020 Philippine Cup against Meralco to send Ginebra to the finals before eventually winning the crown in the Clark bubble.
This time though, the shot was in front of 10,149 fans, mostly cheering for Ginebra, at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
“May anting-anting ata sa corner na ‘yun. Thankful lang talaga, every opportunity, ‘yung mga ganung pagkakataon. Iba ‘yung confidence na binigyan ka ni Justin tapos ‘yung mga fans, todo sigaw, na-motivate kami na maipanalo ‘yung comeback na ‘yun,” said Thompson.
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