Photo by Tristan Tamayo/ INQUIRER.net
His days in the collegiate level may be winding down, but Rey Nambatac is not ready to say goodbye to Letran just yet.
“I don’t want to go on vacation yet because I feel I have an unfinished business here in Letran,” he said. “I don’t think that every game will be my last. That’s why whenever I enter the court, I really give it my best effort to help the team and for us to get the win.”
Nambatac backed up his words as he fired 18 points, nine rebounds, and five assists to help the Knights escape St. Benilde, 66-60 on Friday, and hike their standing at 9-9 to force a playoff for the coveted fourth spot against Arellano.
The 23-year-old is hell-bent on taking Letran to the Final Four in his fifth year, even if it means going through the eye of a needle as he seeks to become a two-time NCAA champion before moving on to a new chapter of his career.
“I want to make it to the Final Four and after that, the Finals and hopefully, we get the championship again,” he said.
But before aiming for the stars, Nambatac knows that Letran’s journey to the next round begins on Friday when the Knights and the Chiefs clash in the knockout game.
Arellano is still missing lead guard Kent Salado, who is out due to a slight MCL tear on high right knee, making Letran the obvious favorite
However, Nambatac knows that the Chiefs are still a dangerous foe as evidenced by their conquests in the eliminations — an 82-75 squeaker in the first round and a tight 84-73 triumph in the second round.
“We can’t relax. Even if Salado isn’t there, their team is still intact,” he said. “We have to do it through our teamwork, discipline, and most important of all, our defense because it’s our defense which will help us win the game.”