TO Gilas Pilipinas Scottie Thompson belonged.
The national team's first ever win against New Zealand in basketball history, 93-89, underscored anew the important role the Barangay Ginebra guard plays for Gilas.
Coach Tim Cone said Thompson's presence at Gilas definitely had a huge effect in the host team's significant victory over the Tall Blacks, which hopefully, will convinced non-believers in giving the 30-year-old guard his rightful place in the national squad.
"Well, I remember a time and I remember this time very distinctly where there was a lot of talk about Scotty can't play at the international game," Cone opened up during the post-game presser for the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers against New Zealand at the Mall of Asia Arena Thursday night.
"I don't know if you guys remember that. But there were a lot of people saying he can't play in the international game because he can't shoot. But in my mind, there's never been any doubt, and in his mind, there's never any doubt."
Sponsored content:
Thompson finished with 12 points and grabbed six rebounds in the Gilas win that finally put to a halt the country's eight losing years against New Zealand spanning a total of four games.
He also played good defense against New Zealand team captain Corey Webster, who got off to a fast start and eventually finished with 25 points. But the veteran guard couldn't find his shots in the crucial stretch of the game and ended up scoreless in the pivotal fourth quarter.
All of those were definitely not lost on Cone.
"The thing with Scotty is you can look at video all you want until you actually get on the floor and play against him. You don't realize what he's doing out there on the floor for you," said the Gilas coach of the former PBA MVP out of University of Perpetual Help.
"In terms of his tremendous rebounding, I think that's what gets the most print. But his defense is spot on, his hustle on the defensive side is spot on, and he's really, really worked hard on improving his shot."
Sponsored content:
It's both those tangibles and non-tangibles that make Thompson fit to don the national colors, according to Cone.
"He's not a guy you can just step off anymore. And his ability to get to the rim and create has always been there. He's been that triple-double machine ever since he was at Perpetual," Cone said.
"So to me it's not a surprise. But just because it's not a surprise doesn't make it amazing. It's still amazing the things he do, but it's not a surprise to us and it's not a surprise to Kai (Sotto) and all of his teammates." (RG)
