Reigning PBA Most Valuable Player Scottie Thompson during a candid chat with the Inquirer. Denison Dalupang/INQUIRER
ILOILO CITY—From being the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) Most Valuable Player to a return to the national cage program, Scottie Thompson has been getting all sorts of validation for his game as of late.
But the Ginebra guard said that the one he is about to get on Sunday should feel extra special.
“Long before playing in the PBA, I’ve already looked up to kuya Jayson (Castro), kuya James Yap, and other veterans like Cyrus Baguio and Dondon Hontiveros,” he told the Inquirer on a bus trip heading back to Marriott Hotel here.
“So when I got the chance to pick Jayson and James, I grabbed it,” he added with a smile.
Thompson will be skippering his namesake squad when it collides with Japeth Aguilar in the return of the midseason showcase that was once frozen by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I feel so blessed that this team is named after me. But really, we’re all leaders here in this team,” the 29-year-old playmaker said.
The revelries at City of Passi Arena get going at 4:30 p.m. with Thompson looking to enjoy having a chance to assemble and play for a team that was just a dream throughout his boyhood years.
“I can’t explain it. It’s a bit unsettling because I used to look up to those guys, and now I got to pick them for a team—my team,” the five-time All-Star said.
“It’s like I put together a league of my own and I have total control of decisions,” he said with a chuckle. “It should feel good.”
Thompson, Yap and Castro are set to be backstopped by Christian Standhardinger, CJ Perez, Calvin Abueva, Robert Bolick, Arvin Tolentino, Kevin Alas, Stanley Pringle, Marcio Lassiter, and Mark Barroca.
Aguilar, meanwhile, will be reinforced by Jamie Malonzo, Chris Newsome, Roger Pogoy, Alex Cabagnot, Calvin Oftana, Paul Lee, Jeremiah Gray, Gian Mamuyac, Nards Pinto, Jio Jalalon along with late replacements Raymond Almazan and Arwind Santos.