At the end of the grueling seven-game series for the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup crown, Rey Nambatac raised the Finals Most Valuable Player plum.
Rey Nambatac delivered his A game for TNT in the best-of-seven PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup Last Dance, and thus he deserved to be recognized as the Finals Most Valuable Player.
Take that from Tropang Giga star Jayson Castro, who was once again present to witness his squad's 87-83 dismantling of Ginebra in Game 7 that reached overtime at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao Friday night, March 29.
[RELATED STORY: Finals MVP Rey Nambatac honors mentor Castro: 'It was all about Kuya Jayson']
Castro was also on the sidelines in TNT's 87-83 Game 6 win Wednesday, March 26.
“Sobrang deserve niya. Kasi kita mo naman 'yong nilaro niya from nag-Best Player (of the Game) siya noong Game 3 hanggang Game 6, 'di ba?” said Castro, who was still gingerly walking owing to a recent surgery on his injured knee.
“So, for me, sobrang deserve niya. Hindi lang siya [pero pati] lahat ng [members ng] team. Pero siya 'yong [nagdala] talaga ngayon.”
Jayson Castro celebrates with the TNT Tropang Giga at centercourt after his teammates captured the 11th title of the franchise in the PBA Season 49 Commissioner's Cup. | Photo (c) RM Chua/One Sports
Castro, a two-time best playmaker in Asia, also said that Nambatac is TNT's best guard now. He added that prior to getting the former Letran star's services, the team already knew his capability to deliver when needed.
“Siya na 'yong best guard namin ngayon,” said Castro of Nambatac.
“Kasi before naman namin siya kunin, 'yong tiwala namin, nandoon na talaga. 'Yong trust naming kaya niyang mag-deliver sa mga ganitong [situation].”
[RELATED STORY: RHJ, TNT repeat over Ginebra in Game 7 OT, seize 2nd straight PBA title]
The most consistent player for the Tropang Giga in the grueling series, Nambatac was hailed as Finals MVP after averaging 17.86 points, 3.1 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.0 steals.
Nambatac shared that Castro has been giving TNT valuable advice, which worked wonders for the team.
Asked about the most important advice he gave Nambatac, Castro said he just told him to play fearlessly and embrace the moment that every player dreams of.
“Sabi ko, maging free lang, 'wag matakot. Kasi ito 'yong moment na gusto natin as a player,” Castro said.
“Embrace pressure. At the same time, sabi ko, i-enjoy nila. Kasi ito 'yong mga moment na 'di mo makalilimutan sa buong buhay mo.”