Scottie Thompson’s one-handed rebound during the crucial moments of the fourth quarter was one of the signature moments in Game 2 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals that ended with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel tying the series with Meralco at 1-1.
Ginebra fans roared in unison after Thompson grabbed the rebound with over five minutes to go in the 99-93 win inside the Mall of Asia Arena, leaping as high as he could to beat Meralco’s Cliff Hodge and import Tony Bishop for the rebound.
The play later set up a three-point play by Justin Brownlee that made it 94-86 for the Gin Kings with 4:56 remaining.
“Wala na, tinalon ko na lang. Buwis-buhay na,” said Thompson, who finished with 16 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks in the contest held Friday, April 8.
“May momentum sila tapos lagi silang nakakakuha ng offensive rebounds so sakto tumapat sa ulo ko tas tinalon ko na lang. Napadapa pa nga ata ako nun.”
His rebound and Brownlee’s slam after taking the ball away from Chris Banchero a few moments later enabled Ginebra to survive a fierce Meralco rally from 20 points down.
Coach Tim Cone, who described Brownlee’s late dunk as perhaps the play of the game, agreed that Thompson’s effort was the night’s second best.
“It lifted us, it lifted the crowd,” Cone said of the play, which he even described in local parlance as a “kalawit rebound.”
“Those solitary plays mean so much more than a fantastic dunk or whatever,” Cone said. “Scottie lifts the team and the crowd with those rebounds and he picks two or three in an important game. I’ve never seen that before.”
Cone even said that Thompson is not doing such rebounding style by accident, having done so on a regular basis during practices.
Winning the rebounding battle against Meralco — regardless if it in simplistic style or in jaw-dropping fashion — is what Thompson and Ginebra would like to do in its quest to win the series.
“Pinopoint out ni Coach Tim, especially ang Meralco gusto din nila ipanalo yung rebound,” Thompson said. “Assessment namin is kung sino mananalo sa rebounds, most likely siya yung makakakuha ng panalo sa series.”