Rey Nambatac’s PBA Finals MVP run no surprise to Jayson Castro
Rey Nambatac is named the PBA Finals MVP of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup where TNT beat Barangay Ginebra in 7 games. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—One of the those most proud of Rey Nambatac’s newest achievement in the PBA is none other than TNT legend Jayson Castro.
After all, Castro’s absence left a huge void in the Tropang Giga’s lineup en route to their bid for the Commissioner’s Cup, paving the way for Nambatac to take the reins in leading the team.
HIGHLIGHTS: PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals – Ginebra vs TNT Game 7
So when Nambatac won the Honda-PBA Press Corps Finals MVP, Castro beamed with pride both as a mentor and a teammate.
“I’m so proud of him. His performances were really impressive. He’s really good,” said Castro with Inquirer Sports at Araneta Coliseum on Friday.
“Right now, he’s really the number one point guard in TNT.”
From one Finals MVP to another, Jayson Castro expresses pride for Rey Nambatac after winning his own #PBAFinals MVP. | @MeloFuertesINQ pic.twitter.com/qM5TR3lenz
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) March 28, 2025
Nambatac notched the Finals MVP plum after averaging 17.85 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists to help TNT come back from a 3-2 deficit in the best-of-seven series.
TNT conquers Ginebra in Game 7 classic to win 11th PBA title
In Game 7, Nambatac popped off with 22 points, four assists, three steals and two rebounds to push the Tropang Giga past the Gin Kings in overtime, 87-83, for back-to-back championships.
If you ask Castro, though, seeing Nambatac play like a revelation was all part of the plan.
“I knew it [Finals MVP] was going to happen because our trust, as a team, is really with him,” Castro saod.
Nambatac’s win the third straight time TNT had a guard win the elite accolade, following Castro from last conference and Mikey Williams two years ago.
