PBA: It’s all love between Rey Nambatac and Rain or Shine

Blackwater Bossing’s Rey Nambatac in a  PBA Philippine Cup game against Rain or Shine. –PBA IMAGES

MANILA, Philippines—Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao made it as clear as day: there’s nothing but love between his team and former player Rey Nambatac.

On Saturday at Ninoy Aquino Stadium, Nambatac took on his former team for the first time in the PBA Philippine Cup with Guiao’s wards coming out on top, 110-103.

Shunning any rumors of bad blood, Guiao clarified that, outside the court, both parties share nothing but love. Inside the court is, of course, a different topic.

READ: PBA: Rain or Shine sends Rey Nambatac to Blackwater

“He  (Nambatac) went to us earlier and asked us how we’re doing… I wished him bad luck,” said Guiao in jest.

“Nothing really changed between us and Rey on the personal side but of course, we’re all professionals. I’m sure he’d be happy if he wins. Of course with us, it’s the same thing. On the personal level though, we still treat Rey as family.”

Before the start of the all-Filipino conference in February, Nambatac was involved in a shock trade that sent him to the Bossing in exchange for a first-round pick, courtesy of TNT.

READ: PBA: Rain or Shine escapes ‘double Rey’ problem to beat Blackwater

Familiarity certainly didn’t help the cause of Nambatac in his quest to pull Blackwater out of its losing rut.

Rain or Shine scouted the Letran product well as he was frustrated to shoot a lowly 35 percent shooting clip (5-for-14).

To rub salt into the wound, Nambatac also fouled out late in the game, leaving him helpless on the bench to watch his old team zoom past his new mother squad.

Leonard Santillan was one of the main antagonists in Nambatac’s supposed revenge game. He finished with 28 points and seven rebounds to deny the Cagayan de Oro native a win over his former squad.

But despite the rough basketball affair, Santillan made it clear that there’s still nothing but love between him and his “compadre” at the end of the day.

“Rey, he’s my compadre. Wherever we go, we always talk it out. That’s how it is but like coach said, we have to be professional when we enter that court. We don’t even talk there.”