Rey Nambatac was quick to say that it takes total team effort to fill in the shoes of injured TNT Tropang Giga star Jayson Castro.
With Jayson Castro out with a right knee injury, Rey Nambatac knew he had to step on the gas even harder.
That was exactly what Nambatac did in the last two games of TNT's PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup semifinal showdown with Rain or Shine, where he averaged 12 points to help his squad secure a ticket to the Finals.
Nambatac turned the pressure into motivation, and good things followed.
“Sobrang baba talaga ng output ko sa series na 'to, which is [because] sobrang na-pressure nga ako. But then again, I realized na kung iti-take mo as positive, as motivation 'yung pressure na 'yun, maraming magagandang mangyayari,” said Nambatac after the Tropang Giga's 97-92 win that ousted the Elasto Painters in Game 5 Friday, March 7.
Nambatac and his TNT teammates thus arranged a rematch against Governors’ Cup Finals foe Ginebra in another best-of-seven series that begins on March 14.
Does this mean more is expected from Nambatac?
TNT Tropang Giga vet Jayson Castro (right) in action before sustaining his injury in Game 2 of the PBA Season 49 Governor's Cup semifinals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
The spitfire guard does not think so. After all, it takes a village to fill in the void left by the two-time Asia’s Best Point Guard.
“Sabi naman ni coach Chot (Reyes) sa'kin, hindi naman totally kailangang i-fill 'yong gap kasi hindi naman talaga kaya. It’s a total team effort. 'Yon pa rin ang kailangan,” said Nambatac.
“At least 10, 12 points 'yong ma-produce ko sa 20 points per game ni Kuya Jayson sa playoffs, malaking bagay na 'yon. The rest, pagtutulung-tulungan namin ng mga kasama ko.”
[RELATED STORY: Chot admits Castro's leadership, maturity will be missed in TNT's Finals rematch vs Ginebra]
The most important thing for TNT right now is to make sure its defense will hold up against a Ginebra side that is reinforced by the return of Jamie Malonzo and Jeremiah Gray from injuries.
“We just proved to them na even though wala si Kuya Jayson, kaya pa rin naming makapag-compete,” Nambatac said.
“Ang goal naman namin every conference, every season is 'yong team defense. Kung 'di gagana ang defense, mahihirapan talaga kami.”
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports Digital)