On Wednesday, Rey Nambatac proved yet again that he’s a big-time player for Rain or Shine.
The Elasto Painters were facing an eight-point deficit early in the final frame of their 2019 PBA Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinal do-or-die clash with the Blackwater Elite. Nambatac then led a 17-2 rally to turn the game in their favor, 82-75, with 1:46 remaining.
Following that, the Elite managed to knot the game at 83-all with 35.9 seconds to go, after Mac Belo buried back-to-back three-pointers. But sophomore guard then calmly sank a jumper from the elbow with 18.5 ticks left in the game.
That jumper turned out to be the go-ahead bucket, and it would give the Elasto Painters the 85-83 win.
“Simple lang, I need to step up.
“Motivation ko is kulang-kulang kami. We are not a healthy team,” said Nambatac of his game, as Rain or Shine are still missing the services of James Yap, Ed Daquioag, and Maverick Ahanmisi.
“So wala na ibang huhugutin si coach Caloy (Garcia) kundi kami, kaming mga bata katulad ko, si (Javee) Mocon. The good thing is nag-step up kami and nag-pay off yung hard work, and yung tiwala na binibigay ni coach Caloy sa’min,” the Letran product continued.
Rain or Shine head coach Caloy Garcia, meanwhile, is impressed with how the 25-year-old has matured quickly.
“Medyo speechless ako.
“Nambatac carried us in this game. Lumalabas talaga ‘yung maturity ni Rey,” lauded Garcia, who knows Nambatac from his days coaching him in Letran and in the PBA D-League.
Told about the comments by his coach, Nambatac said that he has simply learned his lessons well.
“Natuto na ako sa mga sigaw ni coach Caloy sa practice at sa laro,” the 5-foot-10 Nambatac quipped. “Siyempre ako naman, sa isip ko, hindi na pwede na lagi na lang ako sinisigawan ni coach, lagi na lang ako pinapagalitan.
“Nasa isip ko, meron kulang at mali sa ginagawa ko. So tinatama ko step-by-step. Para pagdating sa loob ng court, katulad nun mga clutch moments, eh mature na ako. Hindi na ako katulad nung dati, inaamin ko natataranta ako.
“Natatakot ako siyempre. Pro league na ‘to eh. Sa’kin, para maging successful ka, you have to take that challenge kasi yung mga ganyang chances, yan yung magbibigay ng confidence para sa mga susunod na laban,” he added.
The win propelled the Elasto Painters to the semifinals, where they will face the San Miguel Beermen in a best-of-five series starting Saturday. Nambatac said that they are the underdogs, but that doesn’t mean they’re backing down.
“Motivation namin, we are the underdogs. Parang David and Goliath yun eh. Pero ‘di naman porke kami yung underdog basta-basta kami bibigay. Bilog ang bola, maraming posibleng mangyari pag tulung-tulong lang kami,” he said.
“As usual, follow the system and nandoon pa rin dapat yung confidence, ‘di dapat mawala yun.”
