Reigning NCAA Most Valuable Player Earl Scott Thompson of Perpetual Help has collected every championship that needs to be won since the NCAA season ended last November.
Thompson was a vital cog for a star-studded Hapee squad that won the PBA D-League Aspirants Cup early this year before playing a crucial role in the Philippines’ successful run in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba). Early this month, he bagged a Southeast Asian Games gold medal in Singapore as part of Sinag Pilipinas.
But the 6-foot guard from Davao still feels something is missing in his amateur career.
“Of course, I want to give Perpetual a championship before I leave,” said the soft-spoken Thompson who captured his MVP plum just a year after he struggled with various injuries. “That has always been my goal. The school and coach Aric have given me an opportunity to improve. It would be good to give them back through a championship.”
The Altas reached the Final Four last season, but faltered against eventual champion San Beda. The lopsided loss in the Final Four left a bitter taste as Perpetual Help had played solid all season long before sputtering when it mattered.
The lack of depth and a dominant big man in the lineup hurt the Altas last season. But the problem seems to have been addressed by the entry of African big man Bright Akhuetie who emerged as one of the top players in the Filoil preseason tournament. The improvement of Gab Dagangon also has Thompson excited.
“I think we have a team that can really contend for a title but we know it will take a lot of hard work for us to reach our goal,” Thompson said.