November 09, 2024

Rey Nambatac in cloud nine after fulfilling dream of winning first PBA championship

Rey Nambatac in cloud nine after fulfilling dream of winning first PBA championship
Once upon a time, Rey Nambatac thought winning a PBA championship was but a dream. Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports

All Rey Nambatac wanted was to win a PBA championship after being taken 7th overall by Rain or Shine in the 2017 PBA Draft, two years after his NCAA title with Letran.

But after coming up short one conference after another, Nambatac admitted he felt his ultimate PBA dream looked bleak.

 A PBA title was just that—a dream, he thought.

“Minsan nang dumating sa isip ko na nawalan ako ng gana na makaabot pa sa Finals,” said Nambatac.

“Then again, blessing in disguise na napunta ako sa TNT. Yun naging motivation ko. Like what I have said many times na ito yung best shot ko na makatikim ng Finals and makapag-champion.”

Traded to TNT earlier this year from Blackwater, Nambatac made an immediate impact as lead guard for TNT.

And when he did finally get his chance to strut his stuff in the Season 49 Governors’ Cup finale, he gave it his all.

Now, he can call himself a PBA champion.

The spitfire guard normed 10.0 points, 4.67 rebounds, and 3.67 assists right in his first Finals appearance, helping the Tropang Giga vanquish Ginebra in six games again for back-to-back titles.

In the championship-clinching 95-85 win in Game 6 on Friday, Nov. 8, Nambatac finished with 12 points, none bigger than the corner triple that tied things up at 84-all early in the fourth period.

RR Pogoy, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and Jayson Castro then delivered the finishing blows for the Tropang Giga, who claimed their 10th PBA title overall.

“Nandito na ako. Finally," said Nambatac, his dream realized. "Masasabi ko na sa sarili kong isa na akong champion sa PBA."

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