KUNG hindi ukol, hindi bubukol.
Such is an old Filipino saying which basically means if something’s destined for someone, then they’re certainly bound to get it.
In Scottie Thompson’s case, he went through the bukol process quite literally first before taking what’s deservingly his.
Thompson got a huge lump in his forehead in Game 1 of the semifinals after getting inadvertently kicked by Jhonard Clarito in the face, and then capped off his final game of the conference by getting smacked by Kelly Williams just 30 seconds into Game 7 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals – suffering a boxer’s cut beneath his left eye.
READ: Scottie Thompson named PBA Finals MVP after Ginebra ends drought
None of those matter now as Iskati limped out of the Mall of Asia Arena an eight-time PBA champion and a three-time PBA Finals MVP after Ginebra's grueling seven-game affair against longtime tormentors TNT Tropang 5G.
“The more bukol the more panalo,” Thompson said laughing after Ginebra’s 88-76 closeout win on Wednesday.
Making this even more poetic was how early on, Scottie’s misfortunes were even turned into memes online especially after Ginebra lost the first game against Rain or Shine.
The name ‘Iskati Bukol’ was thrown around in the comment section, often followed by a throwback punchline in an old 90s TV commercial asking ‘gamot sa bukol meron ka?’ or a picture which depicts Thompson’s lump as the ‘0’ in 1-0.
But the very thing that opposing fans mocked Thompson for was also the reason why he’s beloved by Ginebra fans all over the world.
After receiving the full brunt of Clarito’s heel in his forehead, Thompson responded by hitting a four-pointer, and then proceeded to chase down Adrian Nocum and block his fastbreak lay-up.
And after getting whacked by Williams? He scored seven of Ginebra’s first nine points and finished with 19 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, three steals without a single turnover in the all-important Game 7 to finally win a championship series against the Tropang 5G after losing their previous battles.
That’s the type of player that will forever be loved by the legions of Ginebra faithful, easily the biggest basketball fanbase in the country.
That he puts his body on the line night in and night out and responds with such fire even after taking hits is the very reason why how some would say that of all the beloved Ginebra stars that came after the great Sonny Jaworski, he’s the closest one when it comes to representing the ‘Never Say Die’ mantra.
And Thompson promises that for as long as he’s cleared to play, there will be no let-up in effort when he’s on the floor.
“Sa sarili ko talagang I know I’m battling through pain. For me talagang napaka-special,” Thompson said. “Andaming ups and downs, andaming struggles, pero at the end of the day we got the championship. All glory to God lang talaga."
Scottie fighting through it
The head hits are just part of Scottie’s ‘pain management’ for the entire conference.
Ever since the semifinals, Thompson was visibly hobbling at times as he was managing an undisclosed leg injury – something that he dismissed as simply being ‘banged up’.
But he couldn’t hide that any further come Game 5 of the PBA Finals. Right after making a crucial steal and save to seal the win for Ginebra – Thompson was first to the locker room to manage his leg.
Thompson later revealed that it was a hamstring issue. And while playing through it ultimately cost him a spot in the next Gilas Pilipinas window, he has no regrets knowing he gave it all on the floor for the Barangay.
“I don’t know yet [yung extent] pero sa hamstring ko. Di ko pa alam. Papa-MRI pa lang ako after nito. Wala akong masabi, talagang nilaban ko nalang to, kasama sa struggle yun, kasama sa ups and down. Sobrang blessed lang na nakuha pa rin ang panalo,” he said.
For a guy known as a ‘stat sheet stuffer’ with his ability to get numbers across the board, perhaps the biggest paradox in Thompson’s case is that his value for the barangay goes beyond the numbers.
There will be games where Thompson will throw up bricks. There will be games where he just couldn’t get his shots going. But for as long as he’s on the floor, fans know Thompson won’t cheat them out with his effort – and they were rewarded by finally breaking the TNT hex after seven long grueling games.
“Isa sa mga the best to. Mababaon ko habambuhay, siyempre [nanalo ako] in front of my kids. Tagal na rin nila kaming tinatalo sa finals so kahit papaano, nakabawi din, naka-isa rin,” Thompson said.
“I just want to celebrate right now. I feel so blessed. Wala akong masabi winning the championship and the Finals MVP in front of my kids, wala na akong masasabi.”
Through the years, there were a lot of players who ably stood as the proud franchise’s face ever since Jawo started the Ginebra revolution in the early 90s.
But the ‘perfect' face for a franchise known for their grit, hustle and toughness is just another irony in this story – because the perfect face for this franchise wears the lumps, the bruises and the cuts on it like a badge of honor – much like the once mocked and ridiculed, 'Iskati Bukol.'
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