This time, it was the young upstarts who towed the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters to the 2019 PBA Philippine Cup semis.
With main gunner James Yap the focal point of the NorthPort Batang Pier’s defense in their quarterfinal meeting on Sunday evening, Rey Nambatac, Ed Daquioag, and Javee Mocon willingly stepped up to the plate for Rain or Shine.
Daquioag had 15 points along with five rebounds and four assists; Nambatac made 14 points by hitting four triples with five boards as well; while Mocon had eight points, seven caroms, and three dimes in the 91-86 victory.
“Kami yung young guns.
Masasabi ko na dapat kami yung magse-set ng tempo sa depensa. Siguro uunahan namin sa pagiging aggressive sa loob ng court para yung mga beterano namin, mahawa din,” said Nambatac.
“Kasi kami nga yung mga bata, so fresh legs lagi. ‘Pag ‘di kami naging effective sa loob, yung mga usual na ginagawa namin na hustle, aggressiveness… Eh mahihirapan kaming ipanalo yung game,” added the former Letran Knight.
“I just told the players, any given time you have to step up. They were guarding James the whole game and maganda diyan nag-step up yung ibang players,” lauded RoS head coach Caloy Garcia.
“Rey came out, Javee came out, Ed too.”
For Nambatac, what added more fuel to their fire was their desire not to waste their win-once incentive, from clinching the two-seed in the eliminations where they finished with an 8-3 record.
“Eto yung time na ‘di kami pwede mag-relax, kasi lahat ng pinaghirapan namin, gusto namin may kapalit,” he said. “Three weeks kaming may break eh. Ganun kasi yung sitwasyon namin; minsan kapag may game, slow start o kaya bad start.
“Ang ending, di kami nananalo,” Nambatac added.
“Pero eto, ‘di na namin pinakawalan ‘tong game na to kasi alam namin gaano ‘to ka-importante.”
