NATIONAL Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) stars Baser Amer of San Beda College and Earl Scottie Thompson of University of Perpetual Help have several things in common—they were both raised in Mindanao, recruited by Metro Manila colleges for their basketball program and named by the league as Most Valuable Players.
Amer was the finals MVP in Season 88 and contributed to the Red Lions’ “five-peat” conquest, while Thompson was last year’s MVP, averaging 26.5 points and 10 rebounds per game for the Altas. Together with the rest of Sinag Pilipinas, the two helped the country win its 17th men’s basketball gold medal at the recent Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore.
Amer and Thompson’s outstanding skills and passion for the sport led mobile leader Smart Communications Inc. to include them in its roster of sports ambassadors, known as the Smart Elite.
“Amer and Thompson have very inspiring stories. Both are sons of Mindanao who did so well in their respective hometowns that the big Manila colleges couldn’t help but notice,” Smart Sports Senior Manager Epok Quimpo said.
Amer attracted the attention of college basketball scouts after his high school, Holy Child of Davao, played against San Beda in a tournament. Thompson, on the other hand, gained notice when he represented Davao del Sur at the Palarong Pambansa.
“Their experiences reinforce our commitment to promote sports development from the grassroots levels, with the goal of seeing local athletes excel in the international arena,” Quimpo said.
Smart has been a staunch supporter of sports development in the Philippines. It is a major sponsor in this year’s NCAA and has backed national teams like Gilas Pilipinas, Sinag Pilipinas and the Azkals—as well as the activities of various sports organizations.
Despite their success at the NCAA and SEA Games, Amer and Thompson remain humble, both saying that teams—not star athletes—win championships. “My teammates and I always help each other. Walang selfish sa amin. That’s the secret to our ‘five-peat’ victory. We have a strong brotherhood,” Amer said.
“We treat each other like brothers,” Thompson said about his Altas teammates. “We’re very close to each other, and we do everything we can in every game.”