Former Altas star guard and now Ginebra starter Scottie Thompson. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Though he’s no longer part of the team, Scottie Thompson still believes that Perpetual can make a run for the title this NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball tournament.
“Para sa akin, kayang-kaya nilang kunin yung championship ngayon,” he said on Friday after Perpetual scored a huge 76-62 win over Arellano that snapped the Chiefs’ seven-game winning run and gave the Altas a share of the second place at 10-3.
Watching the game for only the second time this season, the former NCAA Most Valuable Player has noticed a lot of improvements from last year’s crew.
“Nakikita ko sa kanila na halos lahat, ginagamit. Halos lahat, nagko-contribute. Siguro yun yung wala sa amin dati na meron sila ngayon, na halos lahat ng players, kayang mag-contribute,” he said.
But most notably, Thompson lauded the team’s defense under new coach Jimwell Gican.
Perpetual limited the hot-shooting Arellano crew to a season-low 62 points, which is well within the 61.6 average points allowed per outing by the Altas, putting them league-best in defense.
“Isa yun sa pinaka nag-improve sa Altas ngayon, yung depensa. Grabe ang depensa nila sa mga guards. Halos lahat sila, focused sila sa defense kaya rin siguro ang ganda ng record nila ngayon,” he said.
Thompson shared that he couldn’t help but be filled with pride with the way Perpetual has been performing since his departure.
“Proud ako sa kanila kahit wala na ako at di na ako naglalaro,” the Ginebra guard said. “Every time na may laro sila, nanonood ako at pinapanood ko sila sa TV. Yung suporta ko sa kanila, andito pa rin. Yung dugong Altas ko, andito pa din.”