PBA: Nabong’s hustle sparks Bolts

Kelly Nabong versus JayR Reyes. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Meralco’s undersized center Kelly Nabong was tasked to slow San Miguel Beer big man June Mar Fajardo down.

Giving up about four to five inches in height and around 30 plus pounds, Nabong could only do so much against the reigning MVP.

Fajardo scored 30 points on 9-of-11 shooting from the field and 12-of-15 at the free throw line that went with nine rebounds in a losing effort.

While Nabong couldn’t keep Fajardo from getting his usual numbers, which is not surprising at all, he caught the Beermen off guard with a career performance in a game where the Bolts, facing elimination, needed it most.

The 26-year-old Nabong posted a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds to help Meralco upset San Miguel Beer, 106-99, Saturday night.

“Kelly Nabong played big for us inside the paint, he did a good job of diving to the basket off pick-and-rolls which allowed him to get open and he was able to score off those pick-and-rolls,” Meralco head coach Norman Black told reporters during his post-game interview.

Nabong said he was just rewarding the confidence Black has been giving him.

“Coach Norman, he shows a lot of confidence in me, just throwing me out there and I got to show loyalty to him. I got to go out there and dive for balls. If he wants me to guard the biggest big man on the court, I’ll go do it.”

The Bolts aim to defy the odds and knock off the second-seeded Beermen on Monday night.

“We got to show the same intensity we did tonight like diving for the ball, hitting open shots and making good passes. We just got to come out with 110 percent.” CFC