Scottie Thompson was in his element with his all-around brilliance for Gilas Pilipinas during the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The reigning PBA MVP, who wowed the Filipino fans with his performance for the national team, said his main focus was to make the most of Gilas’ offensive opportunities while his rebounding skills was also in full display during the games.
“I’m not focus on scoring, I just grab it when there’s a chance because we have key players like CJ Perez, Ray Parks, and Dwight Ramos,” said Thompson of his unselfish plays by distributing the ball and grabbing rebound.
“I wanted to stick to my role as a point guard by spreading the ball to them and balancing their touches, especially that Kai (Sotto) is there. I’m thankful for this opportunity to lead them as point guard," he added.
The 6-foot-1 guard stood the tallest as he led Gilas in rebounding, seven of which were offensive boards, in a commendable effort that ignited the team’s energy.
“It’s all about heart because when you play for the Philippines, you should play your heart out. My rebounds were all-heart to help my team, especially down the stretch, I’m just doing my best,” Thompson said.
Local sports brand World Balance gave a sneak peek of Scottie’s “ST1” shoes new colorway dubbed as “Reign” and will be available for sale soon. Since its initial release in November last year, Thompson has been sporting different player exclusive on the court in PBA games and during the qualifiers in Gilas jersey. The brand will be launching its third colorway on the market for fans this December just in time for Christmas.
The ST1 “Reign", which Thompson wore against Lebanon, will be released later next month. Sporting a white upper, purple lateral swaybar with gold accents. The colorway is a nod to Scottie’s dominance on the boards.
The inspiration behind the new colorway is associated with royalty, which dates back to the reign of kings and queens, where the color purple was prized for its bold hues and reserved for the upper crust, particularly royals and those with great achievement in the society.