Scottie Thompson could be closeout key for Ginebra

Scottie Thompson

For over a decade, LA Tenorio has been Barangay Ginebra’s steady hand, his steely nerves, crafty playmaking and leadership helping the Gin Kings to almost half of the popular franchise’s 15 PBA crowns.

Tenorio has since taken a different role. Nowadays, he mostly watches from the sidelines, relaying coach Tim Cone’s instructions to his younger teammates which include Scottie Thompson, his former understudy who has since blossomed into one of the league’s finest guards.

The crowd darlings are now at the doorstep of another PBA championship, and in a candid chat with the Inquirer, Tenorio recalled how he once playfully told Thompson that it is now his turn to return the favor.

READ: Scottie Thompson leads Ginebra to first win streak of PBA Finals

“I jokingly said I’ve been giving him championships. It’s about time he gave me some,” the league’s Iron Man said with a hearty laugh.

Thompson, who has consistently produced for Barangay Ginebra in the championship duel against old tormentor TNT, can repay Tenorio this Wednesday in what is expected to be a nerve-wracking Game 6 of the Commissioner’s Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Game time is at 7:30 p.m. with Thompson taking a razor-sharp focus into his squad’s first two tries at clinching the midseason crown.

“We just have to focus on one game. No past, no future,” he said. “Let’s see what we can do in the next game. But rest assured we’ll give our best.”

Not to put pressure on the shoulders of his successor, but the veteran court general made the assurance that Thompson would be able to meet the moment.

“He’ll be there,” Tenorio said matter-of-factly. “Scottie is Scottie. He was a [Most Valuable Player]. It doesn’t matter if he struggles offensively. He does a lot for the team—from hustling to defending.”

Thompson had 16 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block in the previous contest, his all-around play backstopping the heroics of resident import Justin Brownlee, who has been playing gallantly through a janky right thumb for two games.

Staying alive

“He may not be the kind of leader that I am. He has a different kind of leadership. His hustle, his determination, his grit? He carries the team with those,” Tenorio added of Thompson.

Still, one would be remiss to count out the Tropang Giga, who are fighting to stay alive. They have, after all, conquered the Gin Kings twice on this stage.

TNT ace and the tournament’s Best Import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson has vowed to bring the heat.

“How do I see it? Us fighting like hell,” he said with a smirk. “Fighting to win, fighting to play an excellent game. Fighting to give maximum effort.”

“All 48 minutes, whether we go up or not, we just [have to stay] locked in. Chot (Reyes) said it, it’s about our mentality going into the crucial moments: Turnovers, wrong reads on a defensive play, allowing someone to reject the screen, me gambling on something I shouldn’t … me missing easy shots in the paint. That’s focus.” INQ