Gilas Pilipinas' Scottie Thompson has suffered a hand injury that may prevent him from participating in the remaining European training camp.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) confirmed that Thompson sustained a metacarpal fracture in his shooting hand during a practice session in Kaunas, Lithuania. An X-ray results later confirmed the injury.
For this reason, Thompson is unlikely to participate in the upcoming tune-up games.
The SBP stated that the basketball player will consult with a hand specialist upon the team's return to Manila.
"He will be seeing a hand specialist after the team’s arrival in Manila to determine the timeline of his return," the SBP announced.
This setback follows Thompson's previous absence from a game in Estonia due to back spasms.
Coach Chot Reyes on Thompson's injury
Coach Chot Reyes recently discussed Scottie Thompson's injury and the team's response to the challenge of losing a key player from their system.
In an interview shared on the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Facebook page, Reyes emphasized the importance of acknowledging the situation and being aware of the potential negativity that could surround the team.
“It is very important for us to acknowledge it and be aware that the possibility of negativism enveloping the team is always there,” said Reyes
He mentioned that as coaches, they made a conscious effort to demonstrate, not just through words but also through their energy, presence, and vibe, that it's business as usual.
Reyes acknowledged that Scottie Thompson plays a significant role in the team's strategies but highlighted the need to move forward.
“We acknowledge Scottie is a very big piece of what we do but we need forward. That’s the first thing,” the Gilas coach added.
“A lot of these is about role modelling. If you see the guy who is most affected staying positive and upbeat as well, obviously, it affects and infects everybody else. Talk about just being a real leader, I think Scottie continued to stand up and show his leadership in that sense,” he expressed.
Gilas Pilipinas recently suffered a 90-80 loss against a Lithuanian team that had only eight players, marking their third defeat in five games.
However, earlier in their European tour, they achieved back-to-back wins against Ukraine's under-20 squad as part of their preparations for the FIBA World Cup.
Thompson's last appearance was in a close 89-85 loss against Finland on June 29, where he contributed 10 points, 2 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Known for his pass-first style of play, Thompson has been a key player in Gilas' guard rotation during the FIBA World Cup qualifiers. Over six games, he has averaged 6.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists.
