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Top Flight Canada’s Justin Thompson. The young player is the younger brother of PBA star Scottie Thompson. | Photo from NBTC Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines—After winning the Division 2 championship of the NBTC National Finals, Top Flight Canada’s Justin Thompson wore a smile that he couldn’t contain.
But behind that smile is the weight of the pressure to deliver in his rookie year with Perpetual Help for the upcoming NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament in September.
For one, he would have plenty of eyes on him to see if he can hang in the big leagues as a newcomer. Of course, Justin will have a bit more attention than usual being the younger brother of famed point guard Scottie Thompson.
READ: PBA: High expectations for Scottie Thompson ahead of new season
MAKE THE THOMPSONS PROUD!
WATCH: Justin Thompson gives an “Iskati”-like euro step and layup to put Canada up over Makati, 95-93, with 8.4 to go in the #NBTC2024 Div. 2 Finals. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/ArMM5TkBb9
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 24, 2024
“There really is pressure because Kuya was an MVP in NCAA and he also has a huge role as a Ginebra player, plus he’s a crowd favorite and a Gilas Pilipinas member. It’s really pressuring because sometimes, I’m thinking about what I can do [as a player],” said Justin at Mall of Asia Arena on Sunday.
Scottie, who’s currently one of the PBA’s best point guards with a league MVP award to his name, played for the Altas during his collegiate years.
READ: Scottie Thompson juggling multiple duties with wife Jinky’s help
While he was with Perpetual Help, Scottie failed to bring home a crown for Perpetual but the name he made for himself there was nothing short of monumental.
Heck, he even had his jersey retired by the Altas just last year.
Former Perpetual Help star Scottie Thompson. –INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
But besides being a dynamic player on the court, Scottie was the first to give his brother some advice as he takes on the challenge of being a collegiate hooper.
“He told me to just trust God and trust myself. He also told me not to lose confidence. Those are what he always tells me,” bared the 19-year-old Justin said of his brother Scottie.
Fortunately for Justin, he can cross “winning an NBTC crown” off his high-school list before he even steps into the big league.
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Despite scoring just three points in their final match against EcoGreen Makati, his last two points proved to be the dagger of the game, scoring a layup from a Euro step,–much like his brother usually does for Ginebra.
“What I thought about in the first half was to attack but nothing was going in so I just passed the ball. But that time [overtime], I just took it straight because I couldn’t pass it to anyone, everyone was denied… Nakatsamba pa (I even got lucky),” Justin said.
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