Rey Nambatac sat out Rain or Shine’s 2019 PBA Governors’ Cup clash with NLEX Wednesday due to an ankle injury.
The sophomore guard got hurt during the fourth quarter of the Elasto Painters’ match versus Barangay Ginebra last Saturday when he tried to attack the Gin Kings’ defense.
Rain or Shine eventually lost the match.
Nambatac said that he tried to play through the pain in practice but couldn’t hold up. He and the team’s physical therapist then decided he would sit out their match versus the Road Warriors.
“Kinabukasan namaga siya so tinry kong i-practice, hindi talaga kaya. So I decided ngayon kasama ‘yung mga PT namin na ‘wag na lang pilitin kesa lumala pa,” said the native of Cagayan de Oro, who is averaging 11.5 points, 5.25 rebounds, and 2.75 assists per game.
“Baka mag-cause lang din ako ng pangit na laro sa team. So pinagpahinga ko na lang.”
Fortunately, the injury is nothing major, and he hopes he’s fully healed come the Elasto Painters’ meeting with the San Miguel Beermen on November 9, Saturday, in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu.
“Hopefully next game sa November 9 fully recovered na,” he said.
“Kung ire-rate mo (pain) nasa four na lang. Four out of ten.”
However, his absence proved big for Rain or Shine, as it lost to NLEX via big margin, 91-111, dropping to 2-7 in the standings.
The defeat stings for RoS as it narrows their playoff hopes, with the team currently second to the last in the team standings. But he isn’t losing hope, since the E-Painters still have two games left.
After facing the Beermen, they will take on the Meralco Bolts (5-2) eight days later at the SMART Araneta Coliseum.
“I don’t know if there’s a chance pa. Pero meron pa kaming last two games. Para sa ‘kin naman, kailangan pa rin namin tapusin ng maganda last two games namin,” said the Letran product.
“Para kung sakaling may possible na magandang mangyari, ready pa rin kami.”
