There are moments when Barangay Ginebra needs Scottie Thompson to be its point guard, others when it needs him to be its best rebounder, and then there are nights when it simply needs him to take over.
Game 5 of the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup quarterfinals series against San Miguel Beermen was very much the latter.
The former PBA MVP delivered 29 points, eight rebounds, five steals, two assists and a block as Ginebra dismantled San Miguel, 110-94, in the winner-take-all game at Ynares Center in Antipolo on Tuesday. The victory sent the Gin Kings to their 10th consecutive semifinals appearance and prevented the Beermen from completing the reverse sweep.
Thompson's approach to scoring was particularly telling. This was not necessarily a case of a player suddenly discovering a reliable perimeter jumper or deciding to take more difficult shots, as he recorded only 1-for-3 from beyond the arc. The most revealing part of Thompson's performance was not necessarily the 29 points, but the way he went about getting them.
For a player whose offensive identity has traditionally revolved around facilitating, rebounding and making plays within the flow of the offense, Thompson looked considerably more interested in putting pressure on the rim. In this game, the Gilas Pilipinas guard shot a crazy efficient 82.2% from inside the arc (10-for-12), which was the main point of attack for Ginebra alongside spamming Jordan Murphy post-ups.
That distinction is important because Thompson's greatest offensive value often comes from what happens after he gets two feet inside the paint.
Thompson's drives forced San Miguel's perimeter defenders to make decisions earlier in possessions. Give him too much space, and he can build momentum towards the basket. Get too close, and he can use his strength to get past the initial defender. Once he penetrates, the defense has to account for Murphy around the basket, the possibility of a kick-out, and the threat of Thompson finishing the possession himself.
The final point was particularly important because San Miguel made a decision.
They stayed home on Ginebra's shooters, as evidenced by the Gin Kings' 22.7% clip from rainbow country. Little did San Miguel know that letting Thompson be a scorer could also defeat them, and Game 5 was a reminder for them to understand his greatness.
Thompson, for his part, understood what was at the table. He was not ready to see Ginebra's conference end in the quarterfinals, especially after the Beermen had fought back from a 2-0 deficit to force a deciding game.
"There's so much at stake in this game," Thompson said after Ginebra's victory.
"We don't want to end our season and it was the perfect time to show our never-say-die spirit and bounce back from our last two losses
The encouraging sign for Ginebra's millions of supporters is that the 33-year-old guard found another gear when his team needed him most. Across the final two games of the series, Thompson averaged 28 points, 9.5 rebounds and 4.5 steals, numbers that capture both his offensive assertiveness and defensive activity. More importantly, he showed that he can shoulder a heavier scoring burden without abandoning the disruptive defensive work that has long defined his game.
Ginebra now turns its attention to the semifinals clash against TNT Tropang 5G, where an entirely different set of challenges awaits.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the Tropang 5G bring a defense capable of switching across positions, creating turnovers and forcing opponents into uncomfortable matchups. That will test Ginebra's ability to generate offense when its initial actions are taken away, and to protect the ball against sustained pressure.
But first, Ginebra can appreciate what it accomplished against San Miguel, with Thompson serving as the engine that helped get it there.