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Tag: Scottie Thompson

  • NCAA alumni PBA stars speak out on former San Beda player Janti Miller’s ‘I refuse to play in the NCAA’ remark 

    NCAA alumni PBA stars speak out on former San Beda player Janti Miller’s ‘I refuse to play in the NCAA’ remark 

    Janti Miller’s decision to walk away from San Beda — and his pointed remarks about no longer wanting to play in the NCAA — didn’t just mark the end of a collegiate chapter. It struck a nerve among those who once walked the same path and later turned it into PBA success.

     

    For a group of former NCAA standouts now thriving in the pros, Miller’s farewell message felt less like a personal choice and more like a dismissal of a league that shaped their careers. Barangay Ginebra star Scottie Thompson, Titan Ultra’s Calvin Abueva, and Rain or Shine guard Adrian Nocum were among those who openly reacted, not with anger, but with disbelief.

     

    Abueva, a former San Sebastian MVP who built his reputation on relentless energy and toughness, was blunt in his assessment.

     

    “Hindi ko alam kung ano ang isyu nya sa NCAA, pero sana maisip nya, halos lahat ng nage-excel sa PBA ngayon galing sa NCAA,” he said.

     

    Numbers, according to Abueva, back that belief. After the Philippine Cup eliminations, NCAA products dominate much of the PBA’s major statistical leaderboards, with five of eight categories topped by former players from the league. 

     

    Another San Sebastian alumnus, Blackwater’s RK Ilagan, leads the steals race at 2.5 per game, while UAAP representation among the leaders is limited to Zavier Lucero of UP, who tops the blocks category.

     

    For Abueva, the NCAA’s value has never been about flash or popularity.

     

    “‘Yun kasi ang kagandahan sa NCAA, sabi nga nila pag may pangalan ka, sa UAAP ka. Pero pag may gusto kang patunayan, sa NCAA ka. At ganun nga ang nangyayari sa NCAA, lahat gustong lumaro ng todo,” he said.

     

    “Puso at laro ang nilalabas ng mga players sa NCAA. Hindi pagwapuhan o palakihan ng allowance.”

     

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    Nocum echoed that sentiment, admitting the statement left him disappointed, especially given Miller’s ties to San Beda, the league’s most decorated program.

     

    “Syempre, nasaktan ako kasi ang tanong ko bakit ayaw n’ya sa NCAA? Ano ang meron sa UAAP at bakit mas gusto nya run, to think na nasa San Beda pa siya, ang premier team sa NCAA?” said the former Mapua standout.

     

    To Nocum, the issue went beyond leagues and labels.

     

    “Basta ako nalungkot lang ako kasi hindi naman dapat isyu ‘yung liga na lalaruan mo basta maipakita mo yung value mo na dalhin sa championship yung school na nirerepresent mo.Nakakalungkot lang kasi talaga yung statement,” added the high-flying Elasto Painters guard.

     

    Thompson, a former NCAA MVP and now one of the PBA’s 50 Greatest Players, took a more measured stance, saying he’s trying to understand Miller’s side while still standing firmly behind the league that molded him.

     

    “Baka naman may rason siya. Pero kung competition ang reason nya dahil sinabi n’yang ayaw n’ya sa NCAA, siguro naman the alumni of the league can speak for themselves. Marmaing produkto ang NCAA na naging superstars sa PBA,” said the Perpetual Help product.

     

    “Dun pa lang, proud na kaming mga dating taga NC na sabihing made ang liga when it comes to producing the best athletes,” he added.

     

    As the debate continues, one thing is clear: for those who survived the grind of the NCAA and carried it into the professional ranks, the league remains less about glamour — and more about proving, night after night, that toughness still travels.

     

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  • Legendary or Humble? Scottie Thompson downplays career-best performance

    Legendary or Humble? Scottie Thompson downplays career-best performance

    Barangay Ginebra San Miguel roared back in emphatic fashion to even its best-of-seven semifinal series against longtime rival San Miguel Beermen, taking Game 4 with a commanding 105–91 victory on Sunday, January 11, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The win not only restored Ginebra’s momentum but also showcased the brilliance of star point guard Scottie Thompson, who delivered a performance for the ages.

     

    Thompson erupted for a career-high 35 points, while adding 11 rebounds and 11 assists, powering the Gin Kings to a comfortable win. His triple-double was a display of offensive dominance, but it also highlighted his all-around contributions—facilitating teammates, creating opportunities, and anchoring Ginebra’s defense.

     

    Significantly, Thompson’s feat marked the first time since the early 1990s that a local Filipino player scored more than 30 points in a triple-double game. The last to achieve this rare milestone was Alaska rookie—and current Ginebra assistant coach—Johnny Abarrientos, who accomplished it in the 1993 All-Filipino Conference. Thompson’s performance thus cemented itself as a historic moment in PBA history.

     

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    Despite making history, Thompson remained humble, crediting teamwork and timing for his standout night.

     

    “Luckily, it was a good night for me. We just fought hard and battled every quarter. We found our rhythm as a team, and that’s what is most important. We lifted each other and stayed together,” Thompson said in the postgame press conference.

    “Every game is different, but our approach and intensity remain the same,” he added.

     

    However, Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone didn’t hold back in praising Thompson’s effort, calling it “legendary.”

     

    “It was a legendary performance. I think we are going to remember this for a very long time. There is no doubt it was legendary. He was more aggressive tonight, and that made him more of a threat, which opened up passing lanes for him,” Cone said.

     

    Thompson’s dominance allowed Ginebra to control the pace of the game, while the team’s defense stifled San Miguel’s key scorers, keeping the Beermen from closing the gap. Beyond Thompson, supporting players stepped up in critical moments, showing the depth and resilience of the Gin Kings roster.

     

    With the semifinal series now tied 2-2, all eyes turn to the pivotal Game 5 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Wednesday, January 14. The winner will seize momentum heading into the latter half of the series, making Thompson’s form and Ginebra’s collective effort all the more vital.

     

    If Game 4 proved anything, it’s that Barangay Ginebra possesses the talent, cohesion, and star power to rise to the occasion. With Thompson leading the charge and the team firing on all cylinders, fans can expect an electrifying showdown in the next chapter of this storied PBA rivalry.

     

     

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  • Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson named PBA Player of the Week for January 4 to 11

    Barangay Ginebra’s Scottie Thompson named PBA Player of the Week for January 4 to 11

    Barangay Ginebra San Miguel roared back in emphatic fashion to even its best-of-seven semifinal series against longtime rival San Miguel Beermen, taking Game 4 with a commanding 105–91 victory on Sunday, January 11, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The win not only restored Ginebra’s momentum but also showcased the brilliance of star point guard Scottie Thompson, who delivered a historic performance for the ages.

     

    Thompson exploded for a career-high 35 points, complemented by 11 rebounds and 11 assists, powering the Gin Kings to a comfortable victory. His triple-double display was not only a dominant offensive show but also highlighted his all-around contributions in facilitating teammates and anchoring the team’s defense.

     

    Thompson’s feat is the first time since the early 1990s that a local Filipino player has scored more than 30 points in a triple-double game. The last to achieve the rare milestone was Alaska rookie—and current Barangay Ginebra assistant coach—Johnny Abarrientos, who accomplished it in the 1993 All-Filipino Conference, cementing Thompson’s performance as a historic moment in PBA history.

     

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    For his exceptional showing, Thompson earned the PBA Press Corps’ Player of the Week honors for the period of January 4 to 11, averaging 20.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game during the week. He edged out notable rivals including San Miguel Beermen’s Don Trollano, TNT Tropang Giga’s Calvin Oftana, and Poy Erram, earning unanimous recognition from the scribes covering Asia’s oldest professional basketball league.

    “I think we fought hard, we battled every quarter. Luckily, I think it’s just a good night for me. Yung rhythm namin as a team is important especially on the defensive end and that’s the main key. Overall, we got the W and lucky for me. We lifted up each other, we helped each other and we stayed through ups and downs,” Thompson reflected after the win, emphasizing the importance of teamwork alongside his personal brilliance.

     

    Barangay Ginebra head coach Tim Cone heaped praise on Thompson, calling his display a “legendary performance” and underscoring the guard’s humility despite the historic feat.

     

    “It was a legendary performance. I think we are going to remember this one for a long time. Scottie is the most humble guy you would meet, maybe outside of June Mar Fajardo. No doubt it’s a legendary performance. I think he came out and he was more aggressive tonight. He was looking for things and the more he became a threat, the more he was able to open the lanes and make passes as well,” Cone said.

     

    Thompson’s dominance allowed Ginebra to control the pace of the game, while the team’s defense limited the Beermen’s key scorers, preventing San Miguel from closing the gap. Alongside Thompson, supporting players stepped up at crucial moments, showing the depth and resilience of the Gin Kings roster.

     

    With the semifinal series now tied 2-2, all eyes turn to the pivotal Game 5, scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. The winner of the next game will seize momentum heading into the latter half of the series, making Thompson’s form and Ginebra’s collective effort all the more critical.

     

    If Game 4 proved anything, it is that Barangay Ginebra has the talent, cohesion, and star power to rise to the occasion. With Thompson leading the charge and the team firing on all cylinders, fans can expect an electrifying showdown in the next chapter of this storied rivalry.

     

     

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  • PBA Semifinals: Scottie Thompson’s 35-point triple-double lifts Ginebra, Poy Erram powers TNT closer to Finals

    PBA Semifinals: Scottie Thompson’s 35-point triple-double lifts Ginebra, Poy Erram powers TNT closer to Finals

    Sunday at the Mall of Asia Arena felt less like a routine semifinal slate and more like a referendum on belief, balance, and timing.

     

    On one end of the floor, Scottie Thompson authored a performance that instantly etched itself into PBA lore. On the other hand, a long-overdue breakout from Poy Erram reshaped another series entirely. By night’s end, both Barangay Ginebra and TNT had rewritten the momentum of their respective matchups in emphatic fashion.

     

    Ginebra’s 105-91 comeback win over San Miguel was not merely about survival—it was about perspective. Down by as many as 14 early, the Kings leaned on their emotional compass, and Thompson responded with the most complete game of his career.

     

    The former MVP poured in a career-high 35 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and dished out 11 assists, steering Ginebra back from the brink and knotting the series at 2-2. 

     

    The triple-double placed him in rare air, a feat last achieved by Ronnie Magsanoc during the 1990 All-Filipino Conference, per league statistics.More than the numbers, it was the timing that defined Thompson’s night. 

     

    His nine points during a decisive 12-3 run flipped a fragile one-point San Miguel edge into a commanding Ginebra cushion midway through the fourth. From there, the Kings never looked back.

     

    Yet this was not a one-man rescue. Japeth Aguilar’s steady 14 points and six rebounds stabilized the interior, while Norbert Torres’ trio of triples—including the shot that finally pushed Ginebra ahead for good—punctured San Miguel’s resistance. 

     

    Jayson David and RJ Abarrientos added pace and polish, and the Kings’ 34 assists reflected a team rediscovering its identity at precisely the right moment.

     

    For San Miguel, CJ Perez’s 22 points and Chris Ross’ 20 kept them competitive, but the Beermen struggled to generate consistent offense beyond their guards. June Mar Fajardo, limited by both defensive pressure and sore shoulders, endured another rare single-digit scoring night, though his 20 rebounds underscored his continued influence in other areas.

     

    With the series reset, Game 5 now looms as a referendum on which version of each team is real.

     

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    If Thompson’s game was about legacy, Poy Erram’s was about timing.

     

    Entering Game 4 averaging just two points for the conference, Erram erupted for 27 points on near-perfect efficiency as TNT dismantled Meralco, 102-83, to seize a commanding 3-1 series lead. He scored 21 in the first half alone, immediately setting the tone for a bounce-back performance after TNT’s previous stumble.

     

    Even with Calvin Oftana and Jordan Heading struggling to find rhythm, the Tropang 5G thrived on collective execution. Their role players filled the gaps, their defense suffocated Meralco’s options, and their early control never truly wavered.

     

    The win was made more impressive—and complicated—by injuries on both sides. TNT lost Roger Pogoy early to a hamstring injury, while Rey Nambatac remained limited. Meralco, meanwhile, had to cope without Chris Newsome, sidelined by an MCL sprain, a void that proved too large to overcome despite Chris Banchero’s 19-point effort.

     

    By the end of the night, two narratives were clear: Ginebra had rediscovered its heartbeat through Thompson’s brilliance, and TNT had found an unexpected pillar in Erram at the most crucial moment.

     

    In a semifinal round increasingly shaped by depth, durability, and decisive bursts, Sunday served as a reminder that championships are often swung not by who is expected to deliver—but by who does when it matters most. 

     

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