By Jonas Terrado
Rain or Shine guard Rey Nambatac is embracing the challenges of meeting high expectations as he enters the third season of his PBA career.
Rain or Shine’s Rey Nambatac, left, celebrates with Javee Mocon during a PBA game against Blackwater last season. (MB photo | Rio Leonelle Deluvio)
Nambatac emerged as one of the Elasto Painters’ best players in 2019, and many see the former Letran star play a more-prominent role in the upcoming season which opens shop on March 8.
“Alam ko may ibang tao na nag-eexpect ng mataas sa akin dahil sa performance ko last season,” Nambatac said. “Para sa akin, I will take that as a challenge and movitation because it only shows na may tiwala sila sa akin.
“Even though pang-third year ko pa lang sa liga, ganoon na ang expectation nila sa akin,” he added.
The 26-year-old southpaw averaged 10.5 points on 45-percent shooting with 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 47 games last season while playing 24.6 minutes.
His numbers were far better than the ones he had in his rookie season in 2017-18 with averages of 4.8 points on a 38-percent clip with 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 14.6 minutes.
Rain or Shine made the semifinals of the Philippine Cup and Commissioner’s Cup, with Nambatac stepping up in the playoffs by making clutch shots when needed.
Among his heroics was a stepback three in the dying seconds of Rain or Shine’s win over Blackwater in Game 1 of the Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals.
Ankle breaker na, GAME WINNER PA
Sting-Rey Nambatac for the win! #PBAPlayoffs#PBALabanKungLaban pic.twitter.com/iASRdhJO2H
— PBA (@pbaconnect) July 20, 2019
He is grateful with the trust given to him by Elasto Painters coach Caloy Garcia, who has handled Nambatac during his NCAA days with Letran and Racal Motors in the PBA D-League.
“Importante yung communication namin ni coach kasi yun ang malaking factor bakit nakuha ko yung confidence ko last year,” Nambatac said of Garcia.
Despite his coming out party, Nambatac sees more reason to try and improve his skills in order to stay in good form.
“When you enter the PBA, kailangan full package ka na,” he said. “As much as possible, yung mga weaknesses mo limited lang. So yun yung winowork ko this preseason and so far nakikita ko naman na nagbubunga sa mga tune-up games.”
Rain or Shine begins its campaign in the season-opening Philippine Cup against defending five-time champion San Miguel Beer on March 11 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The Elasto Painters’ other games in March are on the 18th against TNT KaTropa at the Mall of Asia Arena and Phoenix Pulse Fuel Masters on the 25th at the Ynares Center in Antipolo City.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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