Ever imagined what it’s like to have Jiovanni Jalalon and Rey Nambatac, two of the top guards in the NCAA, play for one team?
Then imagine no more.
Jalalon and Nambatac, both Cagayan de Oro natives, are set to take the floor together, as Caloy Garcia has announced that the flashy lefty from Letran College will be suiting up for Caida Tiles in its second game in the PBA D-League.
Nambatac’s addition to the team will definitely bolster the Tile Masters’ prolific backcourt, which has already shown what it can do in their 90-79 victory over the Tanduay Rhum Masters last Thursday.
In that game, Jalalon scored 17 points and dished out nine assists. while his backcourt partner in Billy Robles added 14 points and six boards.
Put Nambatac, who had averaged 14.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 2.5 steals in the NCAA, to the mix and you’ll have one of the fiercest backcourt tandems in the D-League.
“Si Rey, iba yan pag dating sa laro. Magaling din talagang bata yan. Kung ano yung pinakita niya sa NCAA, yun din ang maipapakita niya sa D-League,” said Jalalon who actually played with Nambatac back when they were upstarts in Cagayan de Oro.
“Sobrang saya ko kasi ngayon ko lang siya naging kakampe sa D-League. Marami pa sigurong adjustment kasi first time lang namin magiging magkakampe sa D-League,” he added.
Despite Nambatac’s addition, Jalalon said that they still need to be wary of becoming complacent, as he believes that they are in for a rough ride in the tournament.
“Hindi ko parin masabi. Siguro kailangan namin teamwork parin. Sobrang laki nang pagkakilala namin sa isa’t isa kaya sa tuwing nagppractice kami, naguusap usap kami na kailangan namin makuwa ng trophy, kaso pangalan din naman namin ang bubula pag nakuwa namin yun.”‘
