MANILA, Philippines — Barangay Ginebra guard Scottie Thompson pushed through pain and fatigue to help his team edge out San Miguel Beer, 73-71, in a thrilling Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup semifinals on Wednesday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.

While the Gin Kings celebrated the hard-fought win, Thompson was clearly feeling the physical toll of the playoff grind. The veteran guard struggled to even raise his arms in celebration and began cramping during the post-game press conference — prompting head coach Tim Cone to cut his media availability short.

“We know the playoffs have very tough games but whatever we can give, we’ll give our very best,” Thompson said.

“This is part of the game. It’s the playoffs, so the physicality is there. We have to battle through it. We have to be tough in every single possession.”

Thompson was visibly in discomfort for much of the match, frequently clutching his right arm after aggressive defensive plays. In the fourth quarter, he took a hard fall that caused his head to hit the floor — yet he refused to leave the game.

Despite the bumps and bruises, Thompson delivered a gutsy performance, tallying 16 points and eight rebounds in nearly 33 exhausting minutes on the floor.

He credited Ginebra’s tough defense for securing the Game 1 victory.

“From the start of the ballgame, we have to be mindful especially on the defensive end,” he added.
“I think our defense was the reason for us staying through this game.”

The Gin Kings now turn their attention to Game 2 on Friday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where they’ll look to grab a pivotal 2-0 series lead in their best-of-five matchup.