By JONAS TERRADO
Scottie Thompson’s game-winning triple in Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s semifinal win over Meralco has led to comparisons between that shot and the one hit by Justin Brownlee against the same team that resulted in a championship four years ago.
But in the eyes of coach Tim Cone, Brownlee’s buzzer-beating triple remains high on his list of winning moments Ginebra had against Meralco in their one-sided rivalry.
“That’s the creme de la creme. The big shot. I guess, they call it the shot,” Cone said after Thompson’s shot in the 83-80 victory over the Bolts propelled the Bolts to the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against TNT inside the Smart Clark Giga City bubble.
Brownlee’s three over Meralco import Allen Durham at the buzzer before a huge crowd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum gave Ginebra the 2016 Governors’ Cup crown, ending an eight-year drought while launching an era of success for the league’s most popular ballclub.
The Kings would beat the Bolts in their next two Finals meetings in the 2017 and 2019 Governors’ Cup. The recent semifinal series was the first All-Filipino playoff encounter between the two rivals.
Thompson’s corner three off Bong Quinto with 0.6 seconds left allowed Ginebra to escape past a Meralco side that had leads of nine and six points in the second half.
Brownlee later paid tribute to Thompson on his Instagram account, reposting a story made by fan comparing their winning shots against the Bolts.
“@scot_thompson6 (Thompson’s IG account) Big shot!!!” Brownlee said.
Brownlee later had a photo holding a replica version of Thompson’s jersey following his recent training at the Milo Sports Academy in California.
Cone is pleased to see Thompson get the accolades after a performance that saw the one-time Finals Most Valuable Player deliver 20 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.
“This one (Thompson’s shot) is right there close to it,” said Cone. “I’m so happy for Scottie in being the one to make the shot. It’s well-deserving for Scottie.”