Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Rey Nambatac has long been preparing to fill Chris Tiu’s shoes


It’s no secret that the now-retired Chris Tiu’s minutes are being spread out over the young guards of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters. And sophomore cager Rey Nambatac is one of the few reaping the benefits.

“Siyempre malaking kawalan din si Chris Tiu, yun nga kami yung mga pumuno dun,” said Nambatac, as he and fellow guards like Maverick Ahanmisi have been filling in well so far.

Yung minutes ni Chris Tiu naghati na kami dun.”

In the first four games of the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup, the combo guard out of Letran averaged 7.4 points and 3.4 rebounds. And he continued to provide on Friday evening, when the Elasto Painters faced the NorthPort Batang Pier.

The 6-foot native of Cagayan de Oro finished with 11 points – including three free throws in Rain or Shine’s finishing 10-0 run – and four rebounds. His performance helped the Elasto Painters rack up their third straight win with a 107-100 come-from-behind victory.

For the one-time NCAA champion, he’s glad that his preparations last season for Tiu’s departure are paying dividends.

“Actually, last year pinaghahandaan ko na yun eh, kasi anytime soon puwede ako magkaroon ng mahabang minutes or madadagdagan ng konti yung minuto. Ito nangyari ngayon, nagkakatugma dun sa pinaghahandaan ko,” shared the seventh overall pick in the 2017 PBA Draft.

“Siyempre mahirap din punan yung ginagawa ni Chris Tiu eh. So ang sa akin lang, dun lang talaga ako mag-stick sa kung ano kulang, and pupunan ko yun sa defense. Kasi yung defense, yun yung bread-and-butter talaga namin.”

Meanwhile, head coach Caloy Garcia – who has coached Nambatac before, both in Letran and in the PBA D-League – seeks more consistency from him.

#ReadMore  Good pals Al Panlilio, Al Chua turn from Gilas partners to PBA rivals once more

“He just needs to be consistent. He didn’t play a good first half,” said Garcia, as Nambatac only scored four in the said half.

“But then, na-challenge siguro siya doon sa second half. We were asking guys to step up and he did.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

ANTIPOLO — Jayson Castro proved pivotal yet again as TNT methodically tore apart Barangay Ginebra, 104-88, to draw first blood in the PBA Season...

Basketball

Even Rey Nambatac couldn’t help but feel amazed now that he’s headed to a breakthrough PBA Finals appearance in just his first conference with...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – Rain or Shine bid goodbye to its PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup campaign on Friday night but head coach Yeng Guiao remained...

Basketball

ANTIPOLO – TNT took care of business and finished off Rain or Shine, 113-95, to formalize its return to the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals,...

Basketball

Santi Santillan is determined to play through the pain now that Rain or Shine is on the brink of elimination in the PBA Season...

Basketball

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson did everything yet again to tow TNT past Rain or Shine, 81-79, to move one win away from securing a return trip...

Basketball

Aaron Fuller came through in the clutch as Rain or Shine eked out a 110-109 win to avoid falling to a precarious position in...

Basketball

Beau Belga refuses to use inexperience as an excuse now that Rain or Shine is two losses away from being swept in the PBA...

Advertisement