Gilas Pilipinas’ Scottie Thompson
BOCAUE, Bulacan — Scottie Thompson felt remorseful after missing two crucial free throws that could have put Gilas Pilipinas ahead.
But the reigning PBA MVP vows that he will learn from his mistakes after the tough 91-90 loss to Jordan that wrapped up the Filipinos’ Fiba World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers campaign on Monday at Philippine Arena.
“Biggest missed free throws ko sa career ko,” said Thompson shortly after the tough defeat.
“I’m gonna learn from this and sobrang dami kong nabigong mga Pilipino so, masakit for me but I think ito yung pinakabest na niremind sakin na I have to get better.”
(It’s the biggest missed free throws of my career. I’m gonna learn from this because I let a lot of Filipinos down. It’s heartbreaking for me but I think this is the best way to remind me that I have to get better.)
Justin Brownlee scored his 41st point to put Gilas Pilipinas within one, 91-90, with 1:30 left. He missed his potential go-ahead trey but Thompson grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled by Mohammad Hussein.
Scottie Thompson: Biggest missed free throws ko sa career ko. #FIBAWC2023 | @LanceAgcaoilINQ pic.twitter.com/wlwNuV77rx
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) February 27, 2023
However, Thompson missed his two crucial free throws with 30 seconds left before Ray Parks’s potential game-winning basket went off the mark.
“I felt the pressure. This is a big lesson in my career. I have to be better and work on my free throws. Free throws win games and lose games,” he said in Filipino.
‘I don’t think Scottie will miss again’
National team coach Chot Reyes told Thompson, who finished with nine points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, not to be too hard on himself after missing all his two free throws in the game.
“I told Scottie not to get down on himself. He wouldn’t have gotten to the free throw if he didn’t rebound it anyway. Those things happen, and Scottie is going to be a much better player from that,” Reyes said. “That’s happened already before in our history, I’m sure you remember those things in the past. And like I said, it also his efforts that he got the offensive rebound, and unfortunately he missed. When it matters, I don’t think Scottie will miss again.”
The Barangay Ginebra star still lauded his team for fighting back from a 25-point deficit when Jordan held a 41-16 lead on Zaid Abbas’ three-pointer barely two minutes into the second quarter.
“We started flat and then we battled through it until the end to give them a good fight and make our fellow countrymen proud. We came up short because of my missed free throws ko that possibly could have won the game for us. I’ll learn from this for sure,” he said.
Despite missing his free throws, Thompson was consoled by his Gilas teammates after the heartbreaking loss.
“Good thing we are brothers. We got each other’s back,” he said. “Win or lose, we stick together. It’s huge for me that they are here for me, especially I let a lot of Filipinos down.”