FROM foul trouble to his sour shooting night, nothing seems to be going right for Scottie Thompson in Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Barangay Ginebra and TNT.
But he still found a way to impact the game and he did it by doing the things that he does best – hustle.
READ Chot rues 29-17 free-throw disparity in Game 5 loss to Ginebra
Holding on to a three-point lead with a possession left in the game, the Gin Kings couldn’t seem to put things away after giving one offensive rebound after another to the Tropang 5G.
But that’s when Thompson did his thing, stripping Jayson Castro of what could’ve been another offensive rebound before chasing the loose ball and saving it right into the hands of RJ Abarrientos, who finally put an end to things and gave Ginebra a 100-95 win on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“This game kasi it was all about heart na. We need to be tough, mentally and physically. Wala nang ibang [salita],” Thompson said after missing nine of his 10 shots in the game to finish with just six points, five rebounds and four assists while nursing five fouls.
“Whatever it takes kung anong maitutulong sa team, gagawin namin yung role namin individually. I’m happy na nakuha namin yung W, tough game. It was a pound for pound game down the stretch.”
‘Whatever it takes’ is certainly apt for Thompson who was pretty much hobbling through the entire overtime period. He was even spotted going ahead of his team after the final buzzer, but the former PBA MVP said it’s nothing serious.
“Okay naman. Banged up lang talaga the whole series,” he responded when asked about potential injuries.
What’s serious though is his shooting slump over the past two games after dropping a 17-11-11 triple-double in Game 3.
In Games 4 and 5, Thompson shot 3-of-18 combined from the field , fading to just five points per night in those games.
While ‘Iskati’ tipped his hat to TNT’s schemes, he knows that they can’t waste the break that they got in Game 5 – where they won despite his continuous struggles alongside RJ Abarrientos.
“I think as a team they’re really doing their best defensive schemes sa amin, credit to them. We know TNT is a veteran team alam nila yung gagawin nila. Kilalang kilala nila kami as a team and as individuals. Ganun talaga. Sobrang blessed na nakuha namin yung panalo,” he said.
“For us we have to stay grounded right now and do the work, not just tomorrow, starting tonight, pahinga kasama sa trabaho namin yun e, sana makapagprepare kami ng maayos coming sa Sunday.”
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