If you’re open, take it.
That is Rain or Shine’s culture as a team, even if its players are struggling to put the ball through the hoop.
Rey Nambatac was having a rough time offensively in Rain or Shine’s 2020 PBA Philippine Cup clash with reigning five-time champs San Miguel, Tuesday.
But when it mattered the most, he did not hesitate to pull the trigger.
Nambatac doused a furious rally by the Beermen, sinking a big triple to widen the Elasto Painters’ lead to four, 85-81, with 12.4 ticks left.
His side won, 87-83, to mark a successful debut in the bubble. They also shot down SMB’s hopes of seizing the early lead in the shortened tilt.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re 0-for-8, 0-for-9. As long as you’re open, you can take those shots,” said head coach Caloy Garcia.
Prior to hitting that bail-out shot, the three-year pro out of Colegio de San Juan de Letran missed all six of his attempts from the field.
The Cagayan De Oro native then finished the game with four points, seven rebounds, and four assists in over 27 minutes of action.
Garcia is proud of Nambatac’s bravery — having coached him in the D-League —when the game was on the line.
“You can see the maturity in him,” said the seasoned bench tactician.
“He knew the time, he took the biggest shot of the game.”
