PBA Finals: Rey Nambatac now thriving in pressure to lead TNT
Rey Nambatac bails out TNT Tropang Giga in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
Rey Nambatac said Jayson Castro had a lot of influence in his standout performance that gave TNT an 87-85 win over Barangay Ginebra and a 2-1 lead in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Nambatac finished with a career playoff-high 24 points, including the go-ahead three in the dying seconds as the Tropang Giga got the lead and never looked back to fend off a fighting Gin Kings side that lost Justin Brownlee to a dislocated thumb.
HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 3
“I felt the presence of Kuya Jayson even if he’s not in the venue,” Nambatac said in Filipino. “I’ve watched a lot of videos to observe his game.”
Castro was ruled out of the Tropang Giga’s title bid and the rest of the season after his knee gave way during the semifinal series against the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, putting Nambatac on the spotlight.
But through three games of the championship showdown, Nambatac has done a steady job manning the point for TNT with averages of 16.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists.
“I felt that I have overcome that pressure,” he said. “Instead of feeling burdened with the responsibility, like I said I took it as motivation and just played loose.”
READ: PBA Finals: Rey Nambatac ready to fill big shoes for Tropang Giga
Apart from the go-ahead triple, Nambatac was feeling it at the start and made some shots that enabled TNT to weather a 48-42 halftime lead and turn it into a seesaw affair.
He also had five rebounds and seven assists in Game 3.
Meanwhile, Castro continues to recuperate after undergoing surgery at his home in Pampanga. It is unsure if the veteran guard will be able to attend the OBA Finals to cheer on the Tropang Giga.
But RR Pogoy and members of the TNT utility staff paid Castro a visit before the Finals, with Castro leaving a message for the team to push through without him.
