FOR a simple kid who grew up in Digos, Davao Del Sur and dreamed of a professional basketball career, all Scottie Thompson had hoped for was to have a modest playing career and a decent life for his family.
“Gusto ko lang talaga nun makapaglaro sa PBA. Humaba yung career, maging healthy, and makapamuhay ng maayos kasama yung family. It’s all about life para sa akin,” he recalled about life of a pro ball player he envisioned for himself.
Little did he know he’ll have much more than what he ever wished for.
A decade after, not only did the high-flying guard named after NBA great Scottie Pippen become the next big star player of Barangay Ginebra, he is also recognized as arguably the current face of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Thompson, 33, said he never saw his career hitting heady heights after ending up as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2015 draft by Barangay Ginebra.
Back when he started in the PBA, it looked like landing at Ginebra was a bed of roses for him. “Nung na-draft ako sa Ginebra, parang graduation day na naging cum laude ako,” said Thompson. “Talagang sobrang saya.”
But as a wide-eyed rookie, the 6-foot-1 guard had to play second fiddle behind Tim Cone’s solid backcourt rotation that had the likes of former league MVPs Mark Caguioa and Jayjay Helterbrand back then.
“Nung time na pagpasok ko (sa Ginebra), andun si Kuya Mark, Jayjay Helterbrand, Sol Mercado, LA Tenorio, Chris Ellis. Talagang sobrang loaded yung guard,” said Thompson in the latest episode of the SPIN.ph. Cover series.
But coming off an NCAA season where he won the 2014 MVP award as a relentless, triple-double specialist for University of Perpetual Help, Scottie made sure to approach his entry at Ginebra in a different light.
He chose to concentrate on one of the strongest aspects of his game – rebounding.
“Doon ako nakilala, doon ako nabigyan ng playing time,” he said. “Kasi pagdating mo sa pro hindi puwedeng coming from college, star ka pa din.
“So natutunan ko na ‘a dito pala ako puwedeng makatulong at magamit’ sa team.”
Soon enough, it was not only Cone and the rest of the Kings who took notice, but the entire league as well.
Despite being undersized, Thompson began churning out double figures in rebounding on a regular basis behind his high vertical leap and uncanny timing, oftentimes ending up grabbing more boards than resident Ginebra bigs Japeth Aguilar and previously, 7-foot center Greg Slaughter.
Then, he improved on his outside shooting and ramped up his scoring, while likewise developing on his passing skills in making his teammates better.
In no time, Thompson became the active PBA player with the most career triple doubles at 12, the latest of which came during Game 3 of the recent Commissioner’s Cup Finals where he recorded 17 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists despite being hampered by a bad hamstring in a 116-102 win over TNT.
In terms of rebounding, the former volleyball player became only the second guard behind Ginebra legend Robert Jaworski to amass 2,000 defensive rebounds, and was the first in his position to collect 1,000 offensive rebounds in the 50-year history of the league.
From Mark the Spark to King Games to plain Iskati
As the numbers grew, so did his playing status.
Brandishing Ginebra’s famous ‘Never-Say-Die’ spirit in his game, Thompson eventually ascended the Kings’ throne with the retirement of Caguioa in 2020.
And then shortly after, he had the entire league in the palm of his hands.
Thompson’s star truly shone when was adjudged MVP in 2021, the same season he won his sixth championship with Ginebra in the Governors’ Cup where he likewise emerged as Best Player of the Conference - his first ever - and Finals MVP.
That further validated his standings as the current face of the PBA following the exit of two-time MVP James Yap.
Thompson said he’s humbled whenever he’s referred to as such, owing to the way he honors the game coupled with his mass appeal and charisma, not to mention being the biggest star attraction of the league’s most popular ballclub.
“To be honest, it’s overwhelming for me. I’m truly blessed na masabihan ng ganun,” he said. “Pero overall, sa sarili ko hindi ko nilo-look ng ganun, kasi marami namang nandiyan. It’s just all about respect.”
For Thompson though, his hard work in the last decade helped him climb the ladder at Ginebra.
“Nagapang ko talaga. Kahit paano nasabi ko sa sarili ko na na-earn ko yung pagkuha ng playing time (sa Ginebra),” he said. “It’s all about hard work. Proven and tested yun, na kung ano yung pinag-trabahuhan mo, totoo yung sinasabi na yun din ang aanihin mo.
“If you play the game the right way, kapag lumalaban ka sa buhay the right way, I think everything will follow.”
The King has spoken.
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