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-Scottie Thompson has rejoined Gilas Pilipinas’ preparations for the Fiba World Cup.
No less than Thompson’s mentor at Ginebra and national team assistant coach Tim Cone shared the development with the Inquirer in a message Monday afternoon.
“He’s back to practice. He practiced fully without restrictions last night,” Cone said.
Thompson missed a significant chunk of Gilas’ build-up for the August 25 tournament after hurting his right hand in a freak accident during the training camp in the Baltics.
He was shown running full sprints and hitting triples at a gym in Las Piñas in a clip posted by his wife Jinky a few days ago.
FILE – Gilas Pilipinas guard Scottie Thompson takes a selfie with Filipino fans after the Philippines’ win over Jordan. Photo by Fiba
The do-it-all playmaker was diagnosed with a metacarpal fracture on his shooting hand which kept him from taking part in a pocket tournament in Heyuan, China, where Gilas finished with a 3-1 win-loss record against Senegal and old regional tormentor Iran.
The reigning PBA Most Valuable Player’s return comes at a time when Gilas is working on the reintegration of Jordan Clarkson, the Utah Jazz standout who will serve as the program’s foremost weapon in the global meet that will run until Sept. 10.
That leaves 7-foot-3 big man Kai Sotto as the last member of the training squad who has yet to be fully cleared.
Sotto has been limited to shoot-around and drills as the national federation awaits a clean bill of health from his handlers.
The Philippines is bunched with the Dominican Republic, Angola, and World No. 10 Italy in the group phase of the World Cup which will also send the finest performing Asian country to the Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France, next year.