Ginebra hero Thompson finally fulfills promise to late grandma

When Scottie Thompson left for the PBA bubble in Pampanga, he promised his grandmother that he would win the Philippine Cup championship for her.

Unfortunately she passed away as her grandson was in the middle of a grueling, compressed season, where Ginebra’s do-it-all guard finally clinched his first-ever All-Filipino trophy last Wednesday, December 9.

Of course, Thompson’s grandma was at the top of the list of the people he wanted to thank as cheers and confetti scattered all throughout the AUF Gym.

“Siyempre, ‘yung pangako ko sa kanya na i-offer ko sa kanya ‘yung championship, sobrang thankful, sobrang thankful kay God kasi binigyan niya ‘ko ng chance na talagang mabigay ko sa lola ko ‘to,” he said during the post-championship interviews.

(Of course, I’m really, really thankful to God that I was given a chance to give the championship I promised to my grandmother.)

While Thompson filled up the stat sheets as usual on Ginebra’s road to the elusive Philippine Cup, he found a higher gear in the clutch, and saved the Gin Kings on a handful of occasions with his underrated shooting.

Most notably, the pride of Padada, Davao del Sur carved his place in Ginebra lore as he sank the series-winning triple in the do-or-die semifinals Game 5 against the feisty Meralco Bolts.

Maybe, just maybe, someone up there was guiding his hands to victory.

“Sobrang worth it. Talagang hard work paid off para sa amin. Talagang pinaghirapan namin ‘to every single day, every practice, every hour talagang binibigay namin nang todo,” Thompson said.

(It’s really worth it. Our hard work paid off. We grinded for this every single day, every practice, every hour. We gave it our all.)

Sure enough, Thompson’s hard work once again proved itself with numbers as he averaged 8.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in 5 hard-fought games against the TNT Tropang Giga.

Prior to LA Tenorio’s historic fourth Finals MVP win, Thompson was a strong contender for the award among his teammates as well.

“Before the start ng bubble talagang naka-mindset kami na sana hanggang dulo ng bubble kami uuwi,” he continued. “Thankful kami sa mga fans, sa mga sumusuporta sa’min na kahit wala sila sa venue, alam namin patuloy silang sumusuporta sa amin.”

(Before the start of the bubble, we really had this mindset to be the last to leave the bubble. We’re thankful for the fans who supported us even though they couldn’t be here. We know they are always there for us.)

Stories were told, and legends were made in the PBA bubble, but Thompson would love nothing more right now than to go home a champion, and tell those stories to his beloved grandmother himself. – Rappler.com