Nambatac takes over for undermanned TNT, earns weekly PBA player honors
MANILA, Philippines — Rey Nambatac has stepped up when it mattered for his shorthanded TNT squad after a sluggish start in the PBA Governors’ Cup.
A game-winning triple against Converge and a productive showing in defeating San Miguel Beer earned Nambatac the nod as the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of July 28 to Aug. 2.
“As one of the leaders of the team, kailangan ko ipakita na lumalaban pa din tayo,” Nambatac said after averaging 25.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists during the week as the Tropang 5G improved to 3-2 in Group A.
The Press Corps gave Nambatac the weekly citation for the second time in the ongoing 50th season over Rain or Shine’s Adrian Nocum and NLEX’s Schonny Winston.
Nambatac’s performance could have not come at a better time, with TNT missing Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser early in the campaign.
TNT also had deal with more manpower shortage when RR Pogoy hurt his knee and Jordan Heading hyperextending his shoulder in the second half against Converge.
But that didn’t prevent Nambatac from coming through for the Tropang 5G, hitting the winning three at the buzzer to beat the FiberXers, 110-107, and finishing with 30 points despite a 16-0 deficit to start the game.
Against San Miguel, Nambatac produced 21 points and nine rebounds as TNT prevailed, 93-89, in overtime, with help from Kim Aurin, who hit two 3-pointers late, and new import Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson.
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