PBA: Cone always confident of Thompson’s 3-point touch

Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson. PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Scottie Thompson, by all accounts, was having one of the worst games statistically during Game 2 of the PBA Philippine Cup finals against TNT.

Until that one final three-pointer.

With just over 30 seconds left in the game, Thompson got a pass from Stanley Pringle and drilled a game-saving three-pointer from the right corner that put Barangay Ginebra up 87-85.

That was Thompson’s only field goal as he finished with three points, on 1-of-5 shooting, nine rebounds, three assists, and six turnovers.

Despite a horrid shooting from his point guard, Gin Kings head coach Tim Cone never had any doubts that Thompson could make the shot

“When I saw that pass go to him, I was already thinking ‘alright we’re ahead,’” said Cone Wednesday after Ginebra’s 92-90 win that put them up 2-0.  “I know that was gonna go in. Really, truly, I was thinking we’re ahead.”

“Scottie’s a big play guy, he used to do that in college. He has such a responsibility and he’s had that responsibility for us. It’s just that we have guys who could do it as well. Justin [Brownlee] of course was always there, LA [Tenorio] was there, now Stanely.”

This wasn’t the first time that Thompson rose up to the occasion as he also drained the game-winning three in the Gin Kings’ 83-80 Game 5 win over Meralco in the semifinals that sent them to the championship round.

Cone also believes that Thompson will continue to keep hitting those crucial shots from deep that are now becoming of his character.

Before becoming a dependable shooter, Thompson was seen as an inefficient threat from beyond the arc as he’s never had a shooting clip that reached 35 percent in the first three years of his stay in the PBA.

But through constant work, Thompson has now become a viable option as he registered 35.7% and 34.8% from beyond the arc in the 2019 Governors’ and 2020 Philippine Cups, respectively.

“He’s really worked on his shot. He doesn’t look for it much because he doesn’t see himself as a three-point shooter. He’s more of a creator for a three-point shooter,” said Cone. “But when he has the opportunity, he’s gonna knock that shot down.”