Crack guards Thompson, Revilla among top rebounders

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IN A CONFERENCE dominated by imports, and in a season where big local men spell pretty much the difference for the PBA teams, two point guards have so far stood out for their respective sides in a statistical department where height is considered might.

Rookie Scottie Thompson of Barangay Ginebra and the 5-foot-7 LA Revilla of Mahindra are in the top 10 of the rebounding department among locals, joining giants like reigning two-time Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo and Asi Taulava and the workhorse Calvin Abueva.

They have so far outworked several prominent big men in that department, big men like Thompson’s teammate Japeth Aguilar, Rain or Shine’s 6-8 Raymond Almazan, the veteran Alaska Ace Sonny Thoss and highly touted top overall Draft pick Moala Tautuaa of TNT KaTropa.

Thompson, the 2014 NCAA MVP with Perpetual Help, stands a shade under 6-1 but is No. 4 in the rebounding department with 7.5 a game, stepping up for the Gin Kings with their 7-foot center Greg Slaughter remaining to be sidelined recovering from ankle surgery.

Revilla, who played just three games for the Enforcers before breaking his nose in practice, averaged six boards before being sidelined and is also top among locals at Mahindra and tied for ninth overall with Cliff Hodge of Meralco and Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beer.

What is even more eye-popping is the fact that Thompson grabbed an average of three offensive rebounds a night, which is slightly better than the 2.4 that import Justin Brownlee snared in his first five games for Ginebra.

Those three offensive rebounds a night stand as No. 3 among locals, with only the 6-10 Fajardo, with four, and GlobalPort’s Yousef Taha with 3.4, averaging more, according to records released by chief PBA statistician Fidel Mangonon III to the Inquirer after Ginebra’s 105-111 double overtime loss to the Beermen on Sunday night.

Obviously, Thompson has become the leading local rebounder for Ginebra, which has the 6-9 Aguilar, 6-7 power forward Joe Devance and reserve center Dave Marcelo.

Aguilar, whose leaping ability is probably the best in the league, is snaring 5.8 a contest, good for 12th overall; Devance has an average of 4.2 and Marcelo 2.2 in the Gin Kings’ first six games.

Fajardo is leading all locals with an average of just under 12 in six games, while Taulava has 9.0 and Troy Rosario, the second choice behind Tautuaa, has an average of eight.

Ginebra coach Tim Cone had previously said that he drafted Thompson fifth overall because of his ability to play all-around.   

The only thing keeping him from playing the former Perpetual Help ace is that LA Tenorio is still in his prime and is playing great.

In his MVP year with the Altas, Thompson turned in 26.5 points and 10 rebounds a contest and had several triple doubles.