FILE – Gilas Pilipinas guard Scottie Thompson during a game against Jordan in the fifth window of the Fiba World Cup Asian qualifiers. Photo by Fiba
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas deputy Tim Cone offered another way of looking at Scottie Thompson’s performance in the Philippines’ narrow 91-90 loss to visiting Jordan in the Fiba World Cup Qualifiers on Monday night.
The seasoned tactician, who also handles the reigning Most Valuable Player at Ginebra, suggested that people are fixating on Thompson’s muffed freebies that cost Gilas the game.
“Scottie missed two free throws? I didn’t notice,” he wrote in a tweet on Tuesday.
“I did notice the D he played on [Freddie] Ibrahim in the second half, the many assists to (Justin Brownlee), the energy, the rebounds. What a blessing to have him on Gilas,” he went on.
Scottie missed two free throws? I didn’t notice. I did notice the D he played on Ibrahim in the 2nd half, the many assists to JB, the hustle, the energy, the rebound. What a blessing to have him on Gilas! #NSD
— Tim Cone (@manilacone) February 28, 2023
Thompson actually finished with nine points in the match. He also plucked seven rebounds and dished out seven assists that went with a steal.
The reigning PBA Most Valuable Player was +12 in the loss and was even the most efficient cog in the Gilas comeback machine that sputtered towards the end.
Thompson was teary-eyed when he spoke to reporters shortly after the match, saying that the missed charities were the biggest blunders of his career.
National coach was also swift in defending Thompson—who despite his all-around play was still chastised on social media following the defeat.
“I told Scottie not to get too down on himself. He wouldn’t have gotten the free throws if he didn’t rebound [the ball] anyway,” he said in the post-game presser.
“You know, those things happen, and Scottie is going to be a much better player from that,” he added. “It was his efforts that he got the offensive rebound, and unfortunately he missed. When it matters, I don’t think Scottie will miss again.”