Scottie Thompson to sit out for 2-3 weeks with knee injury

Scottie Thompson sits out Ginebra's tough three-game stretch against fellow red-hot teams after injuring his knee against Blackwater. PBA Images (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--LA Tenorio's much-awaited PBA return turned out to be very timely as it is Scottie Thompson's turn to be at the sidelines.

According to Ginebra coach Tim Cone, Thompson will miss two to three weeks of PBA action after hurting his left knee during their win against Blackwater last week.

Bradwyn Guinto accidentally fell down on Thompson's knee, hurting the latter, although Thompson still got to finish the game.

Thompson underwent an MRI on Monday, and according to Cone, Thompson was free from any significant knee damage just like how they initially assessed the injury.

However, Thompson sat out the Gin Kings' Sunday night win against the Terrafirma Dyip at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, their first game with Tenorio back after a nine-and-a-half-month absence due to colon cancer.

This will also likely be the case in Ginebra's next three games against Phoenix, San Miguel, and Meralco.

Thompson is expected to suit up in the Gin Kings' Christmas night clash against the TNT Tropang Giga in a rematch of last season's Governors' Cup Finals.

However, Cone said that knowing Thompson's recent history of getting healed ahead of schedule, he might be reactivated as soon as Ginebra's Saturday night game against Phoenix at the FPJ Arena in San Jose, Batangas.

"Scottie's a quick healer. I wouldn't be surprised if he plays the next game, but we're going to be very careful with him. We don't play until Saturday, so we have a few more days to look at him," Cone said.

He then recalled how Thompson got to play for Gilas Pilipinas in time for the FIBA World Cup after breaking his hand during training camp when he was supposed to sit out the entire tournament.

"We're not going to doubt him at this point," Cone continued.

For now, Tenorio, Maverick Ahanmisi, and Stanley Pringle take turns leading the Gin Kings' backcourt ahead of a tough mid-December stretch against fellow streaking teams.

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