Scottie Thompson Teams Up with ArenaPlus and DigiPlus For a Winning Play

A proven winner and overachiever, Ginebra star Scottie Thompson looks to take his game to the next level with ArenaPlus and DigiPlus.

At first glance, Scottie Thompson doesn’t strike you as a celebrity. If you didn’t follow the PBA and had no idea who he is, you wouldn’t think he was the face of the PBA’s most popular franchise, a Gilas Pilipinas starter, a serial entrepreneur and a major endorser.

In many ways, Scottie is still that shy kid who was drafted by Barangay Ginebra San Miguel fifth overall in the 2015 PBA Rookie Draft. He’s still soft-spoken, courteous and gracious with his time.

Yet he’s also changed, the weight of 11 PBA seasons and six championships resting heavily on his shoulders. From a wide-eyed rookie learning the ropes from Mark Caguioa, LA Tenorio and Jay-jay Helterbrand, Scottie is now the one dishing nuggets of wisdom to RJ Abarrientos, Ralph Cu and Stephen Holt.

Scottie’s rise from a reluctant and unsure prospect out of Perpetual Help to bona fide league superstar is as improbable as his ability to outrebound much taller opponents. He’s the only player from his rookie batch who has so far been named league MVP, and he’s the best rebounding guard the league has seen since original Ginebra hero Sonny Jaworski.

“For me, I’m truly honored na masabihan na one of the best rebounding guards,” he told The GAME in an exclusive interview. “But I think for me, it’s a testament to my hard work. The work I put in every day, every single day, every hour. Nakikita ng mga tao. It’s just a blessing for me. I think it’s just about working hard.”

That hard work immediately rubs off on his teammates, although Scottie will be the first to admit that he’s not as vocal as, say, Caguioa or Tenorio. Yet he realizes that the responsibility of carrying the Ginebra tradition now rests squarely on his shoulders.

“Well, it’s grown on me so much,” he said. “Especially right now. Sobrang bilis from rookie year to being a veteran. One of the veterans na ako. So, yeah, it makes me mature as a player.

“I’m practicing right now more on being vocal kasi I’m one of the leaders. So for me, it’s a little bit hard transition. Kasi sanay akong hindi masyadong nagsasalita. Nag-evolve sa akin. Naging vocal ako as a player, as a leader.”

But while he acknowledges his new role as the veteran leader, Scottie still isn’t comfortable being mentioned in the same breath as Ginebra icons like Jaworski, Eric Menk, or Caguioa. In his mind, he’s merely a very good PBA player who just happens to play for Barangay Ginebra.

“For me, to be honest, I’m not looking at myself as the face of Ginebra,” he says. “It just happened na right now, I’m currently playing with Ginebra and sobrang blessed kasi naging maganda yung pinapakita ko. But for me, it’s still the team of Jaworski, Mark Caguioa, Jay-jay Helterbrand. Sila pa rin ‘yung face dito.

“For me, yan lang. So much blessing sa akin na nakikita ng mga tao na ganun. But right now, I don’t consider myself to be the face of Ginebra.”

He may deny it, but Caguioa, the de facto face of the franchise throughout the 2000s and much of the 2010s, deemed Scottie worthy enough to be given a specific set of instructions after he walked away from the PBA in 2020.

“’Yung pinagbilin ni Mark sa akin, kuya Jay-Jay, even kuya LA, ‘yung fans talaga. Kailangan mong silang alagaan. Sobrang pagmamahal nila sa amin. And we have to give back.

“We have to give back ‘yung pagmamahal nila sa amin. And that never-say-die attitude, it comes from the fans. Kasi whenever we’re down, whenever we’re up, ‘yung intensity ng fans, ‘yung support ng fans, ganun at ganun pa rin.”

Taking it to the next level

Scottie Thompson has always been about scaling new heights, both on the court and off it. Whether it’s his uncanny ability to outjump much taller opponents to grab a crucial rebound or being anointed The Chosen One by the Ginebra faithful, Scottie has always risen to the challenge.

Although he doesn’t see himself duplicating the 20-year careers of Caguioa or Helterbrand, Scottie nonetheless has plans for the future.

“Mahirap ‘yun. Mahirap ‘yun,” he says with a laugh when asked about playing into his 40s. “Kasi talagang antagal nung time nila dito. Kaya that’s why they’re the face of the franchise. For me, as long as healthy lang. I don’t consider na i-aim ‘yun.

“Focus na ako sa moment, kung saan ako dadalhin ng tadhana. I have plans after basketball. But right now, I just want to enjoy the moment and let’s see kung saan ako dadalhin ang katawan ko.

“Of course, the goal is to be healthy throughout my career. As long as maganda naman ‘yung kondisyon ng katawan, if you can still play well and perform well.”

Aside from carrying the mantle of Ginebra, Scottie’s other major role is that of a family man – as loving husband to wife Jinky and doting father to their three sons. As any parent will tell you, this work-life balance comes with huge challenges.

An event that best captured Scottie’s delicate balancing act happened nearly a year ago, when he rushed to the hospital just moments after a Ginebra win to be with his wife for the birth of their third son.

“The routine is different already, the time. I think for me, ‘yung life balance ko, ‘yun ‘yung pinakanabago sa career ko. Kasi you must have time for your family, sa kids, especially when they’re growing up. Gusto mong masaksihan yung paglaki nila. And for me, time management is very crucial.

“Being a father and being a basketball player. And siyempre, andoon pa ‘yung role mo as a husband. Magkaiba pa ‘yun.”

This balanced commitment to both career and family, coupled with his overall Mr. Nice Guy persona, is what convinced ArenaPlus to make Scottie Thompson one of its major brand ambassadors.

“I’d like to combine the person and player aspects of Scottie into one analogy, because, essentially, they are the same good things,” said Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc. President Rafael Jasper Vicencio. “Scottie does his best, but you don’t need my word for it; you can actually see it on the court. Every single time, he passes the eye test for fans. I can’t remember any player getting cheered on for just rebounding the ball, but Scottie gets that kind of unique reaction.

“Off the court, he has a beautiful family and wonderful kids, and he is as gracious and professional of an ambassador as ArenaPlus could get. So when I say Scottie does his best, expect it to apply to every aspect of his life.”

Added ArenaPlus head Erick Su: “We look for personalities who genuinely connect with sports spirit and entertainment and reflect the values we stand for at ArenaPlus. It’s not just about reach—we also want ambassadors who have credibility and authenticity with fans.

“Partnering with athletes like Scottie Thompson and Derrick Rose helps us connect with fans in a more meaningful way. They bring authenticity and a strong connection to the sport, which makes it easier for us to engage audiences while reinforcing the trust fans have in the ArenaPlus brand.”

ArenaPlus and Philippine sports: a winning partnership

Ginebra fans’ passion for the never-say-die attitude of Scottie Thompson is but a reflection of the broader passion of Filipino sports fans for their heroes. It’s a synergy that ArenaPlus quickly recognized.

“Filipino sports fans are among the most passionate and knowledgeable in the world,” said Su. “They don’t just follow games—they analyze matchups, share insights, and stay actively engaged with the sport.”

“I would describe it as heavily emotional, and make no mistake, that is a good thing,” Vicencio added. “We as fans are passionate when we win, and we’re even more passionate when we lose. We’re not the best in the world by a long shot in many sports, but we all follow the game as if we are. That can only bode well for the culture’s future as a whole.”

Su says that ArenaPlus offers fans more ways to connect with the sports they love.

“Since launching in 2023, ArenaPlus has steadily grown by building strong partnerships both locally and internationally, including with leagues like the NBA, PBA, and PVL. Working with respected names in sports, including athletes like Derrick Rose, has helped strengthen our credibility and reach. More importantly, our growth has really been driven by our focus on creating engaging experiences for fans and supporting the broader sports community.

“What ArenaPlus does is give fans a platform to be more involved in the game, whether through interaction, predictions, or being part of a growing sports community. Our partnership with the NBA is a good example of this. It allows us to create experiences that go beyond just watching—bringing fans closer to the game in more interactive and engaging ways.

“Through initiatives like the NBA Playoffs MVP: Battle for the Most Valuable Predictor, a free-to-play bracket prediction contest, we’re giving fans a chance to actively participate and really get in the game.”

Of course, in Philippines sports, basketball is still hugely popular, and the PBA is still at its forefront. So a partnership with the league was a natural choice for ArenaPlus.

“Well, basketball is a religion in the Philippines and the PBA is its foremost cathedral, so to speak,” Vicencio explained. “So to have DigiPlus and ArenaPlus be a big partner is an invaluable thing for our company. Whatever the best of sports can offer, we want to be there to boost that, so these partnerships with the PBA and its top stars are simply no-brainer deals for us.”

What’s in store for ArenaPlus and Philippines sports

ArenaPlus is already the leading sportsbook in the Philippines, but they’ve barely scratched the surface. The rosy outlook for Filipino athletes only bolsters the company’s drive to expand their operations.

“We’re continuously exploring ways to keep our reputation as a top player in the online gaming sphere and religiously adapt to regulations and changes,” Vicencio said. “I see a very, very promising future for Philippine sports. You’ve seen how much fans react and care to basketball and volleyball, but they don’t limit themselves to just those sports. You’ve seen it in gymnastics with the Yulo brothers, in golf with Miguel Tabuena, and especially now in tennis, with Alex Eala.

“You give Filipinos a hardworking star, regardless of sport, and they will follow you forever. So yes, I am very excited for what comes next for Philippine sports, and we at DigiPlus and ArenaPlus will strive to have a hand as much as possible in that development.”

ArenaPlus is in for the long haul, according to Su.

“Fans can expect ArenaPlus to continue supporting the Philippine sports community through partnerships and initiatives. We take a long-term approach—we’re committed to helping grow the sports space by creating more opportunities for engagement and connection among fans and athletes.”

Partnering with a PBA superstar like Scottie Thompson is simply the latest in several moves ArenaPlus has taken to put more focus on Filipino athletes and Philippine sports in general. For Vicencio, this is the company’s true calling.

“As we saw with our previous events, we’ve had tremendous support from fans and partners whether we venture into basketball, volleyball, golf, or other sports. Our support goes beyond just betting lines. Among other factors, we help spread influence and awareness for our partner athletes and leagues so their endeavors do not go unnoticed by the Filipino public.

“The spotlight for Filipino sports is never big enough, and we do our part in keeping that light on and bright.”

Sid Ventura

Editor

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