Nambatac rues slow start in upset loss to Pirates

Letran’s Rey Nambatac. FILE PHOTO/Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net

Consider it lesson learned for Rey Nambatac and Letran.

Lyceum pulled off the perfect game plan, stifling the Knights’ go-to guy early and limiting him to a measly four points in the first half.

Though the fourth-year winger eventually got his groove, it was too little too late as the Pirates pulled off the 75-72 upset Friday in the NCAA Season 92 men’s basketball tournament.

“Late ko na nakuha yung momentum ko, nung fourth na ako nag-click. Kinulang lang sa oras pero kung start pa lang ng second half, kung medyo nakuha ko na agad, di na siguro aabot sa ganito,” he said. “Nagulat din ako sa depensa nila sa akin, di ko rin in-expect na ganun ang gagawin nila, pero yun na yung nasa utak ko na tatauhin nila ako hanggang fourth quarter. Di lang ako prepared masyado kaya di maganda yung shooting ko.”

Nambatac was still able to finish with 22 points, four rebounds, and two assists, but that came from a 7-of-19 shooting from the field.

Despite his lowly shooting, he was still the one to keep Letran in the game. Staring at a 72-64 deficit with 1:21 left in the game, the league’s scoring leader uncorked eight straight points to pull the Knights within one, 73-72, with 12.9 seconds remaining.

But it wasn’t meant to be, as the Lyceum defense forced Nambatac to give the ball up late to Mcjour Luib, who hoisted the potential game-tying three at the buzzer.

“Para sa akin, gagawin ko ang lahat para manalo. Gusto ko na tingnan nila ko na ayaw ko magpatalo,” he said.

Nambatac rued the missed chance in the defeat, but he knows that Letran can’t be down for long as it prepares for Mapua next Tuesday, where both teams, carrying an identical 5-3 record, will part ways.

“It’s going to be a tough game on Tuesday. Para rin makaposisyon kami ng maganda sa second round, gagawin namin yung best namin,” he said, telling the rest of the Knights to lick their wounds and learn from this loss.

“Lesson learned ito sa amin. Ang dami naming lapses so kailangan wala ng masyadong ganoon kasi the more na may lapses kami, mas nawawala kami sa sistema. Kailangan maging composed kami sa Tuesday.”