Thompson naging susi sa pagkuha ng semis slot ng Rain or Shine

Naging maganda ang ikot ng bola para sa Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, matapos magpakita ng kahanga-hangang performance si Deon Thompson sa kanilang ‘do-or-die’ Game Three sa quarterfinals series ng PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup kahapon, Pebrero 9, sa Ynares Center sa Antipolo City kontra Converge Fiberxers, 112-103. 

Gumawa ng double-double si Thompson kung saan humakot ito ng 34 points 12 rebounds at nagdagdag pa ng seven assists, dahilan kung kaya nakuha ng Elasto Painters ang kanilang back-to-back wins. 

Para sa kanilang ikalawang sunod na laro, hindi na naging foul trouble si Thompson, naging susi ito upang matiyak ng koponan ang kanilang spot sa semi final round kung saan makakaharap naman nila ang TNT tropang Giga na una nang nasabi ni RoS coach Yeng Guiao na naging sakit ng kanyang ulo noong nakaraang Governors’ Cup. 

Ngayong swak na ang Elasto Painters sa semis, pinuri ni coach Guiao si Thompson na kahit na siya aniya ang pinaka-underrated na import sa liga, ay ipinakita naman nito ang kanyang aggressiveness upang makipagsabayan sa uri at sistema ng laro ng basketball sa liga. 

“He’s not been really noticed, but we know what he means [to the team] and I believe he’s a big part of the success that we have right now. I think, among all of the imports, he has been the most underrated. [He is the] Lowest scoring import probably but he has had his best game today. Just three assists short of a triple double.  Not only that, he did it on the defensive side,” ani Guiao. 

Ang pagkakasungkit ng Elasto Painters ng spot para sa semis ay labis din niyang ikinatuwa dahil nagpapakita lang ito na kaya ng kanyang koponan na sabayan ang iba pang mga katunggali na maituturing na sanay na sa ganitong uri ng laban. Ito rin ang kanilang 3rd straight semi finals appearance.

“We’re very happy. This is what we’ve been trying to achieve. The past two conferences, we made the semifinals. It would be a pity if we did not make the semis this conference, It’s also a validation of the hard work the guys put in and the togetherness, the camaraderie that they have,” dagdag pa ni Guiao. 

The Scores:

RAIN OR SHINE 112 - Thompson 34, Nocum 25, Caracut 14, Clarito 11, Asistio 7, Belga 6, Datu 5, Tiongson 5, Santillan 4, Malonzo 1.

CONVERGE 103 - Stockton 26, Diallo 19, Baltazar 16, Arana 15, Winston 14, Racal 7, Heading 3, Andrade 3, Santos 0, Cabagnot 0, Caralipio 0, Delos Santos 0, Javillonar 0.

Quarter Scores: 22-21, 50-45, 80-77, 112-103.Thompson naging susi kaya nakuha ang spot sa semis ng Rain or Shine