WHAT started as a great night ended with a whimper for Scottie Thompson.
The reigning MVP initially savored winning his second PBA Best Player of the Conference award, but went out of the Mall of Asia Arena obviously upset as Barangay Ginebra failed to pounce on an import-less Bay Area Dragons and lost Game 4 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals, 94-86, Friday night.
“Yung pagka-award ang sarap sa pakiramdam. Pero mixed emotions kasi the main goal is to win the championship,” said Thompson as the Kings let the Dragons level the best-of-seven series at 2-2 despite playing without 6-foot-10 import Andrew Nicholson.
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“Maganda yung achievement as an individual, but mas masarap na nakuha ko ito (BPC), and at the same time, makuha namin yung championship. Ayun, panandaliang sarap lang ito. Moved on na ulit.”
Thompson and Justin Brownlee basked in the limelight prior to the game as they completed a Ginebra sweep of the conference’s individual award, with the 34-year-old Brownlee winning his third Best Import plum.

But despite Brownlee and Thompson validating they deserved their award after being at the forefront of the Kings’ campaign anew, the Dragons spoiled their special night by coming back from an eight-point halftime deficit.
Brownlee finished with a triple-double of 23 points, 13 rebounds, and 11 assists, but shot 1-of-7 from three-point range, while Thompson was the best local scorer for the Kings with 18 points, five rebounds, and six assists.
“Wala, talo talaga kami. Ang ganda ng ipinakita nila,” said Thompson. “Expect talaga namin na mas aggressive sila. Na-outwork kami. And medyo nag-relax rin kami ng kaunti siguro. Good thing nangyari sa amin ito na hindi pa Game 7.”
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