With the way he’s playing for TNT in the ongoing PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup playoffs, it seems only natural for Rey Nambatac to be compared to Mikey Williams.
It’s no secret that the TNT Tropang Giga made the push to acquire Rey Nambatac in hopes of filling the gaping hole left by prolific Mikey Williams.
So far, the move is doing wonders for the Tropang Giga.
Nambatac made his presence felt in the crucial stretch of Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals against Ginebra on Sunday, October 27.
The former Letran Knight dropped 12 of his 18 points in the fourth period to help give TNT an insurmountable 20-point lead it never relinquished, allowing the defending champions to take the early 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven series.
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Naturally, fans see some similarities between Nambatac and Williams, who was named Finals Most Valuable Player in TNT's last two title wins.
However, Nambatac wants the comparisons to stop now.
“May mga nagsasabi rin talaga na kino-compare din ako kay Mikey. Pero para matigil na yung comparison na yun, malayo talaga ako sa kaniya,” Nambatac said of Williams, who hasn't played in the PBA since TNT won the Season 47 Governors' Cup crown.
“Mikey is a legit scorer. Kahit anong defensive scheme ang gagawin mo sa kaniya, talagang nagagawan niya ng paraan," Nambatac added.
As impressive as Rey has been for TNT in the ongoing PBA playoffs, the spitfire guard said he is nowhere near the Filipino-American cager.
“With regards naman sa playing style ko, malayo eh. Ang goal ko noong napunta na ako ng TNT, at least 50 percent ng ginagawa ni Mikey,” Nambatac said, who actually made his PBA Finals debut in Game 1.
“Yun ang magagawa ko sa team na to, then yung other 50, pagtutulong tulungan na lang namin ng mga kasama ko. Yun talaga yung goal ko. Malayo talaga,” he added with a smile.
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In a loaded TNT group that also features former two-time Best Point Guard in Asia Jayson Castro, Calvin Oftana, and Roger Pogoy, Nambatac is comfortable with his facilitator role.
“Ang role ko kasi dito sa TNT, first, facilitator. Tapos na ako sa role ko na go-to guy, ako yung primary option,” he said.
“With TNT, masaya ako sa role ko and finally nahanap ko yung saktong role sa akin. Syempre, si coach Chot (Reyes) yung nag-guide sa akin na ganito yung gagawin ko dito. At least, ang bilis ng adjustment ko and yun naman yung importante as a pro, as a player, na kailangan mabilis ako mag-adjust.”
Nevertheless, Nambatac is crucial to the TNT engine and he is expected to take the same major role when TNT goes for 2-0 in Game 2 on Wednesday, October 30 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.