[Seventh of a series]
Picking a 'best' list is always a tricky proposition. One's choices do not always conform with what others think. And in a country like ours where basketball is what people eat for breakfast, we expect a vigorus debate as we come out with our list of 10 players who we thought ought to be added to the 40 Greatest PBA Players earlier chosen.
Our list is a selection that we will release, one player at a time, while the PBA itself is trying to form its own list of 10 to be selected by a committee formed by PBA commissioner Willie Marcial to complete the 50 Greatest in time for the league's 50th Anniversary celebration next month.
The selection committee is composed of league greats, former commissioners and select mediamen from different outlets.
We assure our readers that our selection is not influenced by what is deliberated closed doors by the committee whose members, including one from SPIN.ph, have vowed not to divulge any part of the discussion or voting procedure.
Here's the seventh installment of our series on 50 Greatest.
1. ARNULFO 'ARNIE' TUADLES
Read Tuadles piece HERE
2. NELSON ASAYTONO
Read Asaytono piece HERE
3. JUNE MAR FAJARDO
Read Fajardo piece HERE
4. RENE 'BONG' HAWKINS
Read Hawkins piece HERE
5. LEWIS ALFRED 'LA' TENORIO
Read Tenorio piece HERE
6. ABRAHAM COLUMBUS 'ABE' KING JR
Read King piece HERE
7. EARL SCOTTIE THOMPSON
WHEN does a rebound become a highlight play?
When Scottie Thompson does it, of course.
All 6-foot-1 of him, leaping in the air, and just somehow, some way, claiming the possession for himself – against hulking and towering imports or local big men still a head taller than him.
Actually, it’s not somehow, some way. There’s a method to the madness of a point guard turning a board into a big play.
Thompson just has a nose for the ball, so he’s always in the right position. He just has a tireless motor, so he can jump and do a second jump if needed (and keep jumping, truth be told). And it doesn’t hurt either that he has above average hops and wingspan for his position.
That’s how a rebound has become the signature play of the Ginebra playmaker, who’s actually a triple-double threat – meaning, he can stitch together a reel of all his best passes, bravest drives, or biggest threes, as well.
The rebound is also the perfect metaphor for Thompson’s career. He wasn’t supposed to be the most accomplished player from a draft that included the likes of Mo Tautuaa, Troy Rosario, and Chris Newsome. He wasn’t supposed to be the face of the PBA’s most popular team. He wasn’t supposed to be MVP.
But he put himself in position, reached for the stars, and took the ball and ran with it all the way to already-legendary status.
READ Playoff-mode Scottie a lot more aggressive on offense
Now, over a decade into his PBA career, Thompson is a one-time season MVP, two-time Best Player of the Conference, six-time All-Star, one-time Most Improved Player, and most importantly, seven-time champion and two-time Finals MVP.
And at just age 31, he may very well be – and should be – among the 10 new names added when the PBA unveils its 50 Greatest Players for its golden year.
Thompson can do it all, as his career averages of 9.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.2 steals put on display, but even better, he’s willing to do anything and everything to help his team.
Ask him to crash the boards, convert easy baskets, or create open looks for his teammates, and he’ll do so. Ask him to work on his shooting – his Achilles heel since his days as an NCAA superstar – and he’ll turn himself into a serviceable sniper whom the defense can no longer sag off of.
That also includes being so iconic that he doesn’t need a moniker. His name itself is already enough. Scottie. Iskati. Thompson. No qualifiers needed.
Through his lens when he was awarded the PBA’s top individual player award back in 2022, though, he was just a role player who used hard work and discipline to earn the trust of Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone.
And, indeed, relentless hard work and determined discipline were more than enough to endear him to the league’s winningest shot-caller.
Through heart and hustle, look how far Thompson has come, the talent from Digos, Davao del Sur, the product out of the NCAA’s Perpetual Altas, and the pride of the Philippines when he suits up for Gilas Pilipinas.
To think that all of it started with rebounds.
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