PBA: Thompson embraces rising expectations after winning MVP | ABS-CBN

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PBA: Thompson embraces rising expectations after winning MVP

PBA: Thompson embraces rising expectations after winning MVP

Camille B. Naredo,

ABS-CBN News

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Scottie Thompson is the PBA
Scottie Thompson is the PBA's Most Valuable Player for its 46th season. PBA Images.

MANILA - Scottie Thompson secured his growing reputation as the new face of the Barangay Ginebra franchise after winning Most Valuable Player honors of the PBA's 46th season on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Thompson won the award in a landslide, in the process becoming the first Ginebra player to take home the MVP trophy since Mark Caguioa in the 2011-12 season.

"Hindi ako makapaniwala," the guard said of his latest achievement. "Wala akong masabi. Thankful kay God na binigay niya sa akin 'tong MVP."

It was the latest in a string of individual success for Thompson, who also won Best Player of the Conference honors in the 2021 PBA Governors' Cup, and was named Finals MVP when they claimed the championship.

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The MVP is his most significant award yet, however, and Thompson knows that expectations of him will rise exponentially after he lifted the trophy on Sunday's Leo Awards at the Araneta Coliseum. As he enters his eighth season in the league, Thompson believes he is ready for this new challenge.

"After kailangan ko rin mas more mag-mature para sa team. Kasi kailangan ko rin, s'yempre, ma-lead 'yung team," said Thompson. "Malaking panghahawakan 'tong nakuha ko ngayon, especially 'yun nga -- 'yung expectation ng team, ng mga fans and of course management."

"So mahirap, pero I'm up sa challenge," he added.

Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone has already said that Thompson's responsibilities in their team will only increase as his career progresses. In the 2021 Governors' Cup, the Ginebra coaching staff made the pivotal decision to move veteran guard LA Tenorio off the ball and give Thompson the bulk of playmaking duties.

It resulted in the best conference of Thompson's career to date, and another Ginebra championship.

Thompson says he will continue to lean on Cone and the Ginebra coaching staff, as well as Tenorio and the rest of their veterans while he gets used to his role on their team.

"I'm just so blessed na andiyan si Coach Tim, the coaching staff, buong Ginebra fans and especially 'yung mga beterano namin na andiyan pa rin, na nagga-guide sa akin," he said. "I think sa akin, parati pa rin akong makikinig sa mga nauna sa akin, 'yung mga veterans. Kasi sila pa rin 'yung key ng success para sa team."

He will follow the path set by those players even as he embraces a bigger leadership role, Thompson said.

"Kung ano 'yung binibigay sa akin ng mga beterano, 'yung mga bago namang dumating, 'yun din ang gagayahin kong parang footprint para makatulong din sa mga bagong dumadating din sa amin," he said.

Thompson and the Gin Kings open their campaign in the 2022-23 PBA Philippine Cup next Sunday against the Blackwater Bossing at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.

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Biggest sports stars of 2024 to be feted in PSA Awards Night

Biggest sports stars of 2024 to be feted in PSA Awards Night

ABS-CBN News

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Filipinos greet the float carrying the country's athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics during the 'Heroes Welcome Parade' around the streets of Manila on August 14, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/FileFilipinos greet the float carrying the country's athletes who participated in the Paris Olympics during the 'Heroes Welcome Parade' around the streets of Manila on August 14, 2024. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA -- A huge toast is in store for the country's best-ever showing in the Olympics when the Philippine Sportswriters Association holds its annual Awards Night on Monday at the Centennial Hall of the Manila Hotel.

Gymnast sensation Carlos Yulo is the star of the night as the well-deserved recipient of the Athlete of the Year award from the country's oldest media organization under the leadership of its president Nelson Beltran, sports editor of The Philippine Star.

Yulo, the 24-year-old pride of Leveriza, Manila, carved out the Philippines' first ever double gold medal during the Paris Olympics in a fitting highlight to the country's centennial participation in the quadrennial showcase.

His unforgettable triumph will be immortalized in the grand celebration that starts at 7:00 p.m.

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With the theme ‘Golden Year, Golden Centenary,' the formal event that counts a total of 117 awardees, will have the treasured Olympians serving as the special guest of honor and to be recognized for their hard work and sacrifices in representing the Philippines at the highest level of sports.

Members of the Philippine team to the Olympics in the last 60 years will be represented by their respective batches and join the 2024 Olympic contingent to the French capital, along with the Paris Paralympic Games delegation in sharing center stage during the program.

Former Senator Freddie Webb, who played for the men's basketball team in the 1968 (Mexico) and 1972 (Munich) Olympics, is the keynote speaker and will speak on behalf of all the Olympians.

Legendary weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, the Filipino athlete who broke the barrier when she gifted the country its first ever Olympic gold in Tokyo five years ago, will have her special moment in the star-studded affair as she will be formally enshrined in the PSA Hall of Fame. The 33-year-old Diaz is a four-time winner of the Athlete of the Year (2016, 2018, 2021, 2022).

Boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas will also be feted with the President's Award for their bronze medal achievements in the Paris Games, while POC President Abraham ‘Bambol' Tolentino is the 2024 Executive of the Year for his continued hands-on leadership in guiding Philippines sports to bigger breakthrough and greater glory as magnified by the two golds and two bronzes in last year's Olympics.

Meanwhile, the Gymnastics Association of the Philippines is hailed as the National Sports Association (NSA) of the Year, and joins June Mar Fajardo and Kevin Quiambao (Mr. Basketball), Jia Morado-De Guzman (Ms. Volleyball), Rubilen Amit and Carlo Biado (billiards), Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran (boxing), Daniel Quizon (chess), Rianne Malixi (golf), Tachiana Mangin (taekwondo), and jockey John Alvin Guce, Batang Manda, and Benhur Abalos (horse racing), who will all be handed out with Major Awards.

Also included in the year's PSA honor roll are the NCAA and MVP Group of Companies for Special Award, 19 citations, and seven recipients of the Tony Siddayao Awards.

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