Ever since Scottie Thompson went down with a hand injury early in July, Gilas Pilipinas has had point guard problems, which were evident in its tune-up games in Europe and during the pocket tournament in China.
Considering what he brings to the table, the do-it-all floor general is considered by many as a lock in the national team’s lineup for the FIBA World Cup. But with just less than two weeks away before the international tournament begins, Thompson's health status remains in question.
Thankfully, his wife Jinky provided Filipino hoop fans a positive update on the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar’s condition. On Saturday night, Mrs. Thompson went on Instagram and shared a video of her husband engaging in a shooting drill that resembled Gilas' own exercises during its first practice with Jordan Clarkson.
“ATM (at the moment). I couldn’t be more proud. I love you @scot_thompson6!"
There's certainly a lot to be proud of for Jinky, as her husband is only over a month removed from his metacarpal fracture, yet, Scottie was already sprinting up and down the floor and taking threes on both ends of the court.
Another good thing is he made all of his shots, at least every single one that was shown in the clip. Yep, the country’s best rebounding guard is now hitting triples with his injured hand. Thompson seems fully prepared to bring his two-way game to the national team.
So, will he make it in time and join Gilas for FIBA’s flagship event? The eye-test says it’s a resounding yes. But of course, it’s best to wait for an official announcement. Should he be ready, a pairing between him and Clarkson might just do wonders for the Philippine squad.
(GM)