ANTIPOLO CITY—Rey Nambatac isn’t Rain or Shine’s usual go to go when the team needed buckets, but with the Elasto Painters’season on the line, the hustling wingman knew he had to produce.
The sophomore guard out of Letran out delivered in the biggest ways possible, willing the Elasto Painters to a crucial 91-81 Game 6 win over Magnolia in the semifinals of the PBA Philippine Cup Friday at Ynares Center here.
Nambatac had a stellar outing of 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting from deep and 13 of those points came in the payoff period.
Rain or Shine held on to a 77-71 lead, a respectable margin but not something that could assure a win, with 5:52 remaining in the game.
Sensing his team needed a boost, Nambatac knocked down two straight three-pointers that gave the Elasto Painters a 83-71 with 3:57 to play essentially assuring his team of a Game 7.
“First of all, I was ready because since the start of the third quarter I wasn’t called to get to the game but my mindset was anytime I can come in,” said Nambatac in Filipino.
“So when I did get called, I knew I had to step up which was really needed because our wings were focused on defense and our offense sorely lacked because of it. I then focused on the offensive end.”
James Yap was the only wingman for Rain or Shine, apart from Nambatac, to have a productive night finishing with 16 points and seven rebounds while shooting 7-of-14 from the field.
Nambatac, who averaged 7.7 points and 3.7 rebounds, shot an overall 5-of-9 from the field.
Gabe Norwood had a miserable outing on then floor shooting just 3-of-13 but finished with eight points and 10 boards while rookie Javee Mocon shot 0-of-2 from the field but made two of his four free throws.
Nambatac added he can’t afford to relax once Game 7 starts especially with his fourth-quarter performance surely putting him on the Hotshots’ scouting report.
“I have to study for this especially that I know I’ll be on the scouting report so I can’t relax,” said Nambatac. “I know in myself that I can help the team when I go to the floor.”