When rookie Rey Nambatac went out of the dugout of the Cuneta Astrodome, there was a sense of relief on his face. He finally had his first-ever PBA game in the books.
And it couldn’t be a more fitting pro debut as he and the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters reigned victorious over the TNT Katropa.
“Finally natanggal na yung pressure, tanggal na rin yung kaba. Yung game namin kanina it was a very good game, siyempre sa akin din as a rookie,” Nambatac said.
“Magandang exposure din sa akin yun, first debut game maganda kaagad yung laro tapos malakas yung kalaban.”
True enough, pressure wasn’t something that seeped in Nambatac. He was utilized by head coach Caloy Garcia for a good 12 minutes and 52 seconds, and produced five markers and five rebounds.
“Para sa akin, ‘di naman [ako] masyadong nabigla kasi preseason pa lang nakalaban ko na yung mga ibang PBA teams so kahit papaano may idea na ako kung papaano talaga ang laro sa PBA,” said Nambatac of his outing.
“He performed well,” Garcia added.
“He gave us quality minutes and of course unti-untiin namin yan.”
And it also helped that he has long been familiar with Garcia and his system, thanks to the time they have spent together in Colegio de San Juan de Letran in the NCAA and with semi-professional club team Racal Tile Masters in the PBA D-League.
“Okay naman ako sa system ni coach Caloy kasi naging coach ko na din si coach Caloy, ‘di lang sa Letran pati na rin sa D-League,” the 25-year-old recalled.
“So matagal na din kaming nagkasama and kabisado ko na din yung sistema.”
The native of Cagayan de Oro may have had liked the way he played in his debut, but the Elasto Painters’ seventh overall pick in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft insisted that he, just like any other newbie, still has a lot to learn for him to last longer in Asia’s first pro league.
“Madami pa. Long way to go, long way to go pa,” expressed the one-time NCAA champion. “Siguro isa na rin yung mental toughness sa loob ng court kasi hindi na katulad nung amateur na kaya mong brasuhin, kaya mong mamain.
“Dito kailangan ma-outsmart mo mga kalaban mo so yun talaga pag-aaralan ko.”
