WHAT’S more valuable than the PBA’s MVP award?
Ginebra do-it-all wingman Scottie Thompson has emerged as a solid contender for the season’s top award after leading Ginebra to the Promised Land anew in the recent Governors Cup.
But while he welcomes the chance of being considered for the prized individual award, Thompson is setting his sights on helping the Kings win more titles.
“Sobrang blessed kapag nagkataon pero hahayaan ko na ang tadhana na magbigay sa akin noon, si Lord,” Thompson said of the MVP plum.
“Kung mangyari, (okay). Kung hindi, okay lang. Main goal ko is to win another championship. Sarap manalo ng championship more than the special award,” he added.
The 6-foot-1 Thompson averaged 14.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 1.1 steals in the season-ending tourney where he bagged the Best Player of the Conference award as the Kings scored a 4-2 finals triumph against the Meralco Bolts.
Thompson, who was also named finals MVP, said the feeling of winning never wanes.
“Nakakaadik kapag nakakuha ako ng championship. Sobrang nakakaadik,” Thompson said.
“Kapag binigay, thank God. Pero maraming deserving.”
In the Philippine Cup, Thompson normed 12.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks for Ginebra but sat out the last three games due to health and safety protocols.
The likes of TNT prized rookie Mikey Williams and Magnolia forward Calvin Abueva, the Best Player of the Conference in the import-less tilt, are expected to give Thompson a big fight for the coveted award, along with Robert Bolick of NorthPort.
Traditionally, the pro league hands out the MVP Award and other plums the start of the incoming season.
While admitting Thompson, 28, has flies on his ointment, Kings coach Tim Cone maintained the former Perpetual Help standout is one of the squad’s most valuable players.
“I think it’s going to be hard to deny (that) there’s a lot of deserving guys out there and this is the one, Scottie is the freshest in our minds right now and he has just been beyond spectacular. That’s what MVPs do. To me, he has been so valuable for us because of all the things that he does,” Cone said.
“He is totally a complete player in terms of what he does on the floor and what he does off the floor. He is a tremendous teammate. He is so easy to coach. Again, he has been so incredibly valuable to us, and I think that’s the definition of an MVP, how valuable he is to the team. His value is unquestionable.”
Ginebra had to make do without star guard Stanley Pringle beginning early in the year due to a meniscus injury and wound up as the No. 6 team with a 6-5 card, including a four-game losing streak, after the elimination round where they negated the Tropang Giga’s twice-to-beat advantage in the quarterfinals.
In the semifinals, Ginebra hurdled No. 2 NLEX 3-1.
Ace big man Japeth Aguilar also suited up for the Kings in the finals practically on one good foot after sustaining a calf injury.
During those tough times, Thompson delivered the goods for the Kings.
