Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
Three years ago, Yeng Guiao had the chance to draft Scottie Thompson as the third overall pick by Rain or Shine, but he chose Maverick Ahanmisi instead.
Thompson slipped to fifth with Barangay Ginebra winding up with the biggest steal of the 2015 PBA Draft. Two championships and a Finals MVP later, the crafty guard wouldn’t have it any other way.
“First of all, I think everything happens for a reason. I think it turned out for the better because I’m with Ginebra, the crowd favorite,” Thompson said in Filipino.
Three years later, Thompson will get to play for Guiao after all after he was included in the 16-man national team pool for the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
“I’m ready to learn from him. I’m excited because it’s my first time to be under a new PBA coach,” Thompson, who won gold medals as part of the Philippine teams in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games and 2015 Seaba Championship, said.
The 25-year-old Thompson attended the squad’s first practice and right away, the former University of Perpetual Help star said he already picked up a few things from Guiao.
“I already learned a lot about coach’s system. He really wants to have proper spacing and every time he wants us to move without the ball,” he said.
Thompson’s invitation to the national team pool came only a month after he won his second PBA title and first Finals MVP award.
The 25-year-old, who is just in his third year in the PBA, admitted it’s all coming too fast but that doesn’t mean he’s struggling to keep up.
“It’s overwhelming. I’m not rushing because I’m still in the early stages of my career, but the opportunity is here and I’m not letting it go to waste, I’m going to grab it and do my best.”