Injured Jayson Castro's support for the TNT Tropang Giga helped boost eventual Finals Most Valuable Player Rey Nambatac's confidence.
When TNT needed someone to step up, Rey Nambatac answered the call.
The 31-year-old guard delivered another big-time performance in Game 7 of the PBA Season 49 Commissioner’s Cup Finals to help power the Tropang Giga to an 87-83 victory over Brgy. Ginebra Friday, March 28, for their second consecutive championship.
[RELATED STORY: Rey Nambatac named Finals MVP after shining for Jayson Castro-less TNT]
Nambatac's heroics did not go unnoticed.
He was later named Finals Most Valuable Player after averaging 19.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals throughout the best-of-seven series.
In the decider, he poured a second-best 22 points to back import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's team-high 25 as he proved instrumental to TNT’s title-clinching win.
For Nambatac, this moment was years in the making.
He has faced his fair share of struggles, including one brought by the pressure of filling in the hole left by TNT's veteran leader, Jayson Castro, who was ruled out for the rest of the season after sustaining a patellar tendon tear in Game 2 of the semifinals.
[RELATED STORY: Rey Nambatac says Jayson Castro's presence in Game 6 an 'extra motivation' to TNT]
“Sobrang blessed,” Nambatac said during the post-game press conference.
“Dumaan ako sa maraming ups and downs, pati sa conference na ito. Alam kong may pressure lalo na noong na-injure si Kuya Jayson [Castro], pero noong in-embrace ko ‘yung challenge, ito ‘yung naging outcome.”
Nambatac credited Castro's influence as a driving behind his confidence, describing him as his mentor.
“Kinongrats niya ako tapos sabi niya sa'kin, deserve [ko] raw ito, way to step up daw sa absence niya,” Nambatac shared.
“Sabi ko naman sa kaniya at sa interview ko, it was all about Kuya Jayson kasi siya talaga naging mentor ko. Naging extra motivation sa'kin 'yong mga advice niya noong pumunta siya noong last practice namin.”
[WATCH: TNT asserts mastery over Ginebra in Game 7 OT, takes Comm's Cup throne]
Still limping after his surgery, Castro made sure to show his support for his teammates, and that made all the difference for Nambatac.
“Doon talaga nagsimula. Doon nag-spark 'yong confidence ko Lalo, eh,” he added.
“Na-appreciate ko siya dahil kahit hirap siyang makalakad, nag-effort siyang pumunta. Sobrang laking bagay 'yon para sa'kin at sa teammates ko.”