SCOTTIE Thompson left the Ynares Center on Wednesday with a big lump on his forehead while taking a big L as Barangay Ginebra faltered late and allowed Rain or Shine to steal Game 1 of their PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinal series.
He was still nursing that same lump, albeit a bit smaller now – but what’s important is the smile that comes with it as he exited the Mall of Asia Arena a winner this time following Ginebra’s 109-101 defeat of the Elasto Painters on Friday.
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Thompson shrugged off the injury despite how bad it looked – saying that it’s simply a part of playing in a high-stakes playoff series.
“Okay naman. It happens every game especially sa playoffs, the physicality is andyan,” Thompson said after getting inadvertently whacked in the face by Jhonard Clarito’s heel in a loose ball scramble.
“Medyo nahilo lang ako after ng game. Pero maganda alaga ni misis kaya ayun.”
The former PBA MVP also holds no ill will toward Clarito as he knows that there was no intention to hurt from the rugged Rain or Shine forward’s end.
“Oo of course, nilapitan niya ako kaagad. Nakita niyo naman hindi naman sadya talaga. Like I said, it happens sa game. Alam mo naman kaming mga bisaya laban lang.”
Thompson showed no signs of that injury after finishing with 15 points, six rebounds, six assists and one block in nearly 34 minutes of action in Game 2.
But what looked like a breezy bounceback win turned out to be a grind in the end as the Elasto Painters made one last fiery rally in the endgame – allowing Rain or Shine to get in the groove and turn it into a fast-paced back-and-forth affair which obviously worked in the E-Painters’ favor.
“Of course we’re happy we got the W, we tied the series pero marami pa kaming kailangan iimprove, especially sa last part ng game,” Thompson said. “Alam namin ganun yung Rain or Shine but hinayaan parin namin mangyari. Sana ma-improve namin yun next game.”
While there are plenty of things they did wrong that need improving, Thompson also gave credit to Rain or Shine – a team who he says possesses the same ‘Never Say Die’ attitude that Ginebra is known for.
“May dugo ring Never Say Die spirit yung Rain or Shine e, so credit sa kanila. Yung mga bata talagang ambibilis.”
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