Apologetic Scottie Thompson on late misses vs Jordan: 'Biggest missed free throws sa career ko'

Scottie Thompson was left with disappointment after he was unable to sink two free throws that could have given his Gilas Pilipinas team the lead and potentially the win against Jordan in their final FIBA World Cup qualifier.

Thompson trooped to the charity stripe with 30 seconds left in the fourth quarter after drawing a foul from Mohammad Hussein with the FIlipinos trailing by one, 91-90. But the Ginebra guard went wide on both his attempts, leading to another possession for the visitors.

Those two misses proved costly as Gilas, which trailed by as much as 25 points early in the game, fell short in its comeback to wrap up the qualifiers with a stinging loss.

Thompson believes these will go down as the biggest misses in his career so far.

"Biggest missed free throws sa career ko," he said on Monday as Gilas played in front of the home crowd at the Philippine Arena.

"Andon 'yung pressure. Kinakausap ko 'yung sarili ko na sana ma-shoot ko but ganon talaga."

("Biggest missed free throws of my career... There was pressure. I was talking to myself earlier hoping that I would make them, but that's the way it goes.")

Still, the reigning PBA Most Valuable Player stressed he will use this experience as fuel to keep improving while also crediting his teammates for being there for him afterwards.

"But I'm gonna learn from this and sobrang dami kong nabigo na mga Pilipino so masakit for me but I think ito 'yung best na reminder sa akin na I have to get better," he added.

"Andon sila sa likod ko kasi talagang we’re brothers, we have each other’s back so ‘yun nga, malaki ang maitutulong nito sa career ko. I have to be better and work on free throws. Free throws talaga win games and lose games."

("But I'm gonna learn from this and I let so many Filipinos down so it hurts, but I think this is the best reminder that I have to get better... They were right behind me because we're really brothers, we have each other's backs, so this will help my career greatly. I have to be better and work on free throws. Free throws can win games and lose games.")

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News