Scottie Thompson thinks left corner now becoming a 'lucky spot' for him

Scottie Thompson hit the game-winner for Ginebra against SMB from the same spot where he eliminated Meralco two years ago. Dennis Acosta

By Ivan Saldajeno

QUEZON CITY—On Nov. 27, 2020, Scottie Thompson hit a buzzer-beating three from the left corner to clinch the PBA bubble season semifinal series for Ginebra against Meralco at the Angeles University Foundation Gym.

Fast forward to Sunday night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum here, Thompson won it for the Gin Kings again, scoring the go-ahead trey with 4.8 seconds left for a 97-96 victory against the San Miguel Beermen in the 2023 Commissioner's Cup.

Interestingly enough, it happened at almost the exact spot where he won it for Ginebra two years ago, the left corner.

"Siguro may anting-anting yata sa corner na yun," Thompson said, thinking that it has become his "lucky spot".

He also said that even his teammates were reminded of his game-winner against Meralco in the bubble upon witnessing the dagger against SMB.

This time around, Thompson deflected the credits to Justin Brownlee, who assisted on the long tom.

"Si Justin talaga nag-plano noon. Naka-plan na ita-tap sa kanya [yung jumpball], so sabi ko sa kanya, pagkakuha niya ng bola, screen ako agad sa kanya. Pero sabi niya, 'No no no! Go straight to the corner. I got you. I'll give you the ball,'" Thompson recalled how their conversation went.

He added, "Ang ganda ng tiwala niya at nag-boost ang kumpyansa ko, kaya naging ready ako sa corner shot na yun kasi coming from Justin na import namin ang tiwala niya sayo."

Both players also connived in forcing Devon Scott to a turnover that sealed the win.

Brownlee, though, deflected the credit to Coach Tim Cone, who told him to go for it despite having two timeouts left.

"The ball came to me; nobody was guarding Scottie. I think it was [Jericho] Cruz in between us. I asked Coach if he wants to take a timeout, and he said, 'If you see something, take it,' so I saw him," Brownlee said.

However, he lauded Thompson for doing something a reigning Most Valuable Player would do.

"That's the MVP, so you have to have confidence in him," Brownlee further said.

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