For Thompson, winning trumps everything

MANILA (2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments) - NBA champion Tristan Thompson had his most productive effort so far in Canada’s triumph over New Zealand in the Semi-Final of the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila. The victory pushed Canada into tomorrow’s Final.

Thompson dominated in the rebounding department, and gave the Canadians a lot of toughness in the paint. He last played for his country in the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, and his presence here has surely buoyed his team’s success. Ahead of their crucial match to determine who gets this tournament’s lone ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics, Thompson talked to FIBA.com.

FIBA.com: What were your thoughts about this big win over New Zealand?
Thompson: We have to give them a lot of credit. New Zealand is a well-coached team. They were very well-prepared. They fought till the end, but we were able to dig deep and got stops in the fourth quarter. New Zealand played a tough game, and they were very good in this whole tournament.

FIBA.com: What was your team’s mindset heading into this game knowing it was win or go home?
Thompson: Coach Jay and the rest of our team prepared hard to win. You know, we travelled this far, and the guys went to multiple destinations to get to this moment. I’m just fortunate enough to be a part of this. We have one more game, and I remember coach wanting to break this game down into four quarters. Whatever quarter it may be, we all just have to be ready. We came this far, and we came here to win.

FIBA.com: What’s your take on this being your best game so far in the tournament?
Thompson: For me, it’s about just coming in and bringing my energy. From day one, we’ve had roles that were identified, and it’s about doing that role and competing every night. We just have to play hard and not worry about the stats. For me, it’s just about doing whatever it takes to win because winning trumps everything.

FIBA.com: What are the biggest factors that have enabled your team to remain unbeaten this far into the tournament?
Thompson: So many guys have stepped up for us. It has been a total team effort. We haven’t really shot the ball as well as we want, but in this kind of tournament it’s all about getting those defensive stops. I feel like we’ve done a good job of getting those stops in our last three games.

FIBA.com: Talk about the kind of grind you’ve had coming fresh off the NBA playoffs, the NBA Finals, and now to the OQT.
Thompson: It has definitely been a long year for me, but that’s a blessing. It’s a blessing to be able to play in the Finals and then coming here to be able to represent my country. For me, of course, it’s a good thing that I’m just 25. Ask me the same question when I’m 35, and I’ll surely have a different answer. Right now, we just have to take advantage of the opportunity, and tomorrow we have a great chance to make history.

FIBA