Those missed freebies will haunt the reigning MVP for a while.
Scottie Thompson has made plenty of big shots for the Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. But, on Monday night against Jordan, the reigning MVP missed two big free throws with under 30 seconds remaining and Gilas Pilipinas down, 90-91.
His first was long and to the left. His second was short.
And, after the game, it was clear Thompson is taking those muffed freebies hard, especially with Gilas dropping the game by the same score to conclude the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers on a losing note.
“Biggest missed free throw sa career ko ‘to…,” Thompson told the media after the game. “Sobrang dami kong nabigong Pilipino."
Thompson was also honest enough to admit that “nandun ‘yung pressure,” which could have contributed to his missing those crucial charities.
But, to be fair to Thompson, he was all over the floor in 30 intense minutes, playing full court defense on Jordanian playmaker Freddy Ibrahim, battling Jordan’s bigs for rebounds, and quarterbacking the Gilas offense. Thompson finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, and Gilas was plus-12 with him playing. He also shackled Ibrahim, limiting him to 9 points in the last three quarters after exploding for 10 markers right in the opening frame.
All that, however, seemingly went down the drain after those two missed free throws.
The visibly dejected Thompson, though, took solace in the fact that this painful “learning experience” happened now rather than in the actual World Cup, where the stakes would be much, much higher. And the do-it-all playmaker knows fully well what he should do in the aftermath of the two biggest missed free throws of his career.
“I have to get better,” Thompson said.