Even Rey Nambatac couldn’t help but be amazed now that he’s headed to a breakthrough PBA Finals appearance in just his first conference with TNT.
Considering, too, that he was in a totally different situation months ago, when he couldn’t even get past the eliminations with Blackwater in the 2024 Philippine Cup in his lone conference there before being traded to the Tropang Giga.
“Bilis eh, ‘no? Parang kailan lang,” reflected the 30-year-old floor general, who was shipped to the flagship MVP Group franchise just last July.
Nambatac said as much shortly after helping TNT book its second Governors’ Cup Finals trip in a row by dispatching Rain or Shine in five in the semis, giving the club a chance to go back-to-back in the import-laden tournament.
He was, without a doubt, key in their gentleman’s sweep of the Elasto Painters, posting solid averages of 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
The Letran product had said previously how much he wants to reach the Finals and that eagerness translated so well on the hardwood, no doubt.
Yet it was a bit difficult for him to celebrate hitting that personal milestone, for it came at the expense of the very team he began his pro career with.
“Masaya na parang may halong lungkot,” he said. “Siyempre noon, noong nandoon pa ako sa kabila, sabay-sabay namin pinangarap ‘to eh, na makatuntong sa Finals. Pero ngayon, ako lang ‘yung nakapunta sa Finals.”
But the consummate professional that he is, Nambatac is nonetheless proud, and at the same time grateful to the rest of the Tropa for all the help, most especially in making him and his game fit with the perennial contenders.
“Thankful ako sa mga coaches, kay Coach Chot, sa mga bosses, sa utility, sa mga players especially, dahil sila talaga ‘yung isa sa naging factor kung bakit mabilis ako nag-blend dito sa team, mabilis akong nakapag-adjust,” he said.
“Kasi naalala ko dati, nung unang dating ko sa team, first practice ko, talagang parang sa akin sila nakatutok eh,” he added. “So parang ginawa nila lahat na parang, ‘OK, kailangan mo agad makapag-adjust.’ So thankful ako.”
Thus, the consistent showings from him that has easily made him one of Coach Chot Reyes’ reliables in this conference — and in the Finals, perhaps.
“Isa sa mga malaking factor dito is ‘yung nag-fit ako roon sa role ko sa team. ‘Yun talaga ‘yun eh, para sa akin. Nag-fit talaga ako roon,” he said.
“In-embrace ko lang ‘yun, and hinayaan ko lang na ‘yung game ko ‘yung mag-jujustify kung saan ako ngayon, or kung fit ba ako sa team.”
