Evolving into a legit two-way threat helped his case big time.
Who’s the best PBA player of all time? Everyone has been asked that question so many times. The names Ramon Fernandez and June Mar Fajardo are the usual answers, of course. Perhaps it’s more interesting to know who’s the best PBA player at the moment.
On the basketball talk show The Huddle, veteran basketball analyst Andy Jao gave us what we wanted. When asked about who he thinks is the best cager in the league today, the man known as Dr J, without hesitation, unloaded his highly valued opinion.
The program’s host Richard Del Rosario, who’s also an assistant coach for the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel smiled from ear to ear when he heard his esteemed guest’s quick reply.
“Scottie [Thompson], all-around, best defender,” Jao said.
The hoops pundit proceeded to suggest that the 2021 PBA MVP is a talent that’s rarely seen in the sport.
“How many 6-foot-2s can you see outjump a 6-foot-9 and get an offensive rebound?”
Clearly, the legendary PBA broadcaster is highly impressed with Thompson’s ultra-sharp rebounding instincts. But it’s probably the Ginebra superstar’s ability to be a lockdown defender that really won the basketball guru over.
“‘Yung timing niya. Biglang may tumira, nandoon na kaagad siya. Pumasok o hindi, nandoon siya, available siya to help out his team,” Dr J remembering one of Scottie’s highlight rebounds vs the Bay Area Dragons in the Commissioners’ Cup finals.
“And Tim [Cone] uses him to defend the best perimeter player on the other side,” he added.
We see no lies in Dr J’s description of Thompson’s best assets. Plus, it’s tough to disagree with someone who has seen it all in the PBA. The man has been in the league since 1977, starting out as an assistant coach for the U-Tex Wranglers.
At 29 years old, Scottie might just be at the beginning of his prime. Him getting better in the next three years isn’t out of the question. But for now, let’s see if he can help Ginebra tie the ongoing Governors’ Cup championship series at 3 wins apiece vs the TNT Tropang Giga.
Game 6 will take place on Friday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.