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PBA: For Cone, finals MVP Scottie Thompson embodies Ginebra’s NSD attitude

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Camille B. Naredo, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/sports/08/08/08082018-scottie-thompson-2-jc.jpg"/><figcaption>In Tim Cone&#x27;s eyes, 2018 PBA Commissioner&#x27;s Cup finals MVP Scottie Thompson &quot;might go down as one of the true greats in the PBA.&quot; Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines—When he was named finals Most Valuable Player of the 2018 PBA Commissioner’s Cup, Scottie Thompson responded by slumping into the arms of veteran teammate LA Tenorio and hugging him tightly.Fans had been chanting for him to win the honor during the fourth quarter of Game 6, after Thompson played a major role in Ginebra’s breakaway from San Miguel Beer. The third-year guard finished with 12 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists in the Gin Kings’ 93-77 triumph.With the result, they wrapped up their best-of-7 series in six games and annexed their first Commissioner’s Cup crown since 1997. For Thompson, it was his third title as a Gin King.“Sobrang blessed,” he said afterward. “First of all, nagpapasalamat ako sa lahat ng teammates ko, sa mga veterans. Talagang on and off the court, sila ang naging mentor ko.”He dedicated his award to the Ginebra fans, who reserved their loudest cheers for him. Throughout the title series, it was clear that nothing got the barangay more hyped than the sight of Thompson leaping over taller players to grab a rebound.It was a mutually beneficial relationship: Thompson draws motivation from the crowd that shows up to support Ginebra in every game, and they in turn are energized to cheer for him because of his incredible effort on the floor.&quot;’Yun ang motivation ko, ‘yung mga nanonood na mga fans -- ‘yung galing pa ng malalayo, pumupunta lang para sumuporta sa amin,” said Thompson. “Nilagay ko ‘yun sa isip ko, na ‘yung ibang fans, umuutang pa para makabili ng ticket para makapanood talaga ng championship.”“Deserve talaga nila ‘to,” he added. “Para sa kanila ‘to, kaya umangat ang laro ko kasi ginawa ko silang inspirasyon.”Even when he was regularly racking up triple-doubles for Perpetual Help in the NCAA, Thompson had always been reluctant to discuss his own accolades, and he remained true to form on Wednesday night.“Sobrang blessed na nakuha ko ‘yung MVP. Wala sa isip ko ‘yun,” he said. &quot;’Yung championship talaga ang target namin.”&quot;’Yun lang ang gusto kong mangyari ngayon,” he added. “Lahat naman deserve mag-MVP, pero mas deserve namin ‘yung championship.”If Thompson was reluctant to talk himself up, his coaches and teammates held no such reservations. Ginebra head coach Tim Cone spoke glowingly of his young guard, saying that he was “running out of superlatives to describe&quot; Thompson.“His will to win, his will to do whatever it takes . . . It’s off the charts,” Cone said. “Everybody brings something, and Scottie brings that intangible — of that, just never quit, never give up.”“And he really exemplifies that never-say-die attitude,” added Cone, in what may be the greatest compliment he can offer for a Ginebra player. “His energy is always there.”When he said “always there,” Cone was speaking literally. The coach revealed that Thompson plays with the same boundless energy in practice that he does in games.“The stuff he does in games, he does in practice all the time. I can talk about him for hours but he’s a real special kid,” said Cone.“And I just think, again, he’s just scratching the surface of how good he’s going to eventually be,” added the multi-titled mentor, who has previously compared Thompson to former NBA MVP Russell Westbrook of Oklahoma City.“He might go down as one of the true greats in the PBA.&quot;Also showering Thompson with praise was import Justin Brownlee, who knows a thing or two about being loved by the Ginebra crowd himself.“That dude is like Superman sometimes,” Brownlee said of Thompson, shaking his head as if in disbelief. “He&#x27;s not the biggest guy on the floor but he can rebound with the best of them, and that type of energy, you know, it translates to the rest of the team and it just boosts the morale of the team when we see stuff like that.”Brownlee was no slouch in the finals, and in their closeout game the import came through with 31 points, 19 rebounds, and seven assists. But for him, Thompson richly deserved the finals MVP, if simply for embodying what they are about as a team.“The intangibles that Scottie brings to the table, sometimes it probably wouldn&#x27;t get recognized, but we as a team, we pride ourselves on doing the little things, and Scottie just happens to be good at all the little things,” he explained.“You know, he&#x27;s really good, and that&#x27;s what makes him a great player, and he can do other things as well. But man, I just love his effort though. His effort is unmatched on the court,” Brownlee added.Thompson never won a title in the NCAA, and even missed the final 4 in his last year with Perpetual Help. But he is experiencing tremendous success in the PBA, and for that the 25-year-old guard will forever be thankful.“I thank God,” said Thompson. “Siguro, everything happens for a reason. Talagang nabigo ako sa Perpetual, pero career ko sa PBA, sobrang blessed.”(For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website</a>.)

Cone calls the do-it-all guard "a real special kid"; Justin Brownlee compares his teammate to "Superman sometimes."

Cone calls the do-it-all guard "a real special kid"; Justin Brownlee compares his teammate to "Superman sometimes."

PBA: For Cone, finals MVP Scottie Thompson embodies Ginebra’s NSD attitude

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PBA: For Cone, finals MVP Scottie Thompson embodies Ginebra’s NSD attitude

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Aug 08, 2018 11:56 PM PHT

Read More:

2018 PBA Commissioner's Cup

Barangay Ginebra

San Miguel Beer

Tim Cone

Scottie Thompson

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