Rey Nambatac and his fellow TNT Tropang Giga need to give everything they've got to stay alive in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals.
Rey Nambatac pointed to a sloppy third period as the culprit in TNT’s sorry 66-73 loss to Ginebra in Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals Sunday, March 23.
After a sizzling first two quarters that saw them zoom post a 45-35 lead at the break, the Tropang Giga cooled off to start the second half of action.
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Nambatac, who finished with 19 points, said TNT struggled to maintain order, allowing the Gin Kings to seize control little by little.
“Siguro, hindi namin na-contain nang maayos 'yong momentum namin. Kasi we had the 10-point lead sa start ng third quarter. Ang alam namin, tuluy-tuloy na. Pero siyempre, ang bilis bumaliktad ng momentum,” said Nambatac after the match.
“Ang ending, nag-collapse kami sa defense namin which is 'yong bread and butter namin. Ang daming lapses noong start ng third quarter which is nag-lead doon sa Ginebra na makuha nila 'yong momentum.”
TNT Tropang Giga RR Pogoy helps his teammate Rondae Hollis-Jefferson rise during Game 5 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Finals. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
But there is gain in loss, according to Nambatac.
Nambatac and the rest of the Tropang Giga took comfort in the fact that they went neck-and-neck against Ginebra even with a disrupted offense and a sloppy defense.
“I think, on the positive side naman sa pagkatalo, kahit medyo off 'yong offense namin at nag-struggle kami sa defense, nandoon pa rin kami sa game,” Nambatac said.
“Kailangan lang naming i-polish ang defense namin. Kasi doon nagsisimula ang offense namin. Kapag maganda ang defense namin, maganda rin ang nagiging outcome ng offense.”
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TNT will have two days to figure things out before going to battle anew against the Gin Kings in Game 6 on Wednesday, March 26.
(With reports from Gillian Trinidad/One Sports Digital)