Thompson on his 17 rebounds: I just want to help the team

Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

BOCAUE – Scottie Thompson may stand at just 6-foot-1, but he might as well be listed as a 7-footer.

The sophomore continued to enamor the Ginebra faithful, this time hauling down an eye-popping 17 boards to lead his side in rebounding in the Kings’ 86-79 thumping of Star on Sunday at Philippine Arena here.

Thompson has been doing it so effortlessly that even he doesn’t realize his achievements.

“I didn’t even notice it. I just wanted us to have second possession because I felt we’ll have an advantage if we got those rebounds,” he said, not shying away from gambling for those 50-50 balls just to give the Gin Kings more chances at the basket.

While Thompson is not aware of his feat, his coach Tim Cone is.

Cone said that what Thompson is doing is exactly what he wants to see in Ginebra day in and day out: gritty and all-out.

“Scottie got to the boards a lot, gave us some extra possessions as he usually does,” he said. “We played a game that was more in character for us and it was a defensive battle, and a grind it out type of game. I think fans like to see the high character of our players, and I think that showed through there.”

It’s not the first time Thompson has dominated the boards.

Back in his collegiate days with Perpetual, his rebounding has been one of his strongest assets en route to racking up several triple-doubles. And when he got to the PBA, it’s no different.

He’s is Ginebra’s top rebounder this 2017 PBA Philippine Cup, ranking fourth with 10.0 boards per game, just behind taller counterparts June Mar Fajardo of San Miguel, Raymond Almazan of Rain or Shine, and Sean Anthony of NLEX.

But as always, Thompson shruged off the praises, saying he’s simply doing whatever it takes to help the team.

“I’m just doing my best. It just so happened the rebounds fell into my lap,” he said.