Finally winning not just his first but also his second PBA championship-and getting Finals Most Valuable Player honors in one of those triumphs-is something Rey Nambatac will remember in his maiden season with TNT.
But Nambatac also admitted there were ‘what-ifs’ from that campaign after an injury kept him from helping out in the Tropang 5G’s Grand Slam bid that eventually fell short.
‘Of course, there’s a sense of regret because we didn’t get a Grand Slam,’ Nambatac said in Filipino. ‘There was nothing you could do but cheer on your teammates, even when they’re playing hurt.’
Season 49 saw the arrival of Nambatac in a trade with Blackwater, and his part in the rotation paved the way for TNT’s conquest of the Governors’ Cup over crowd favorite Barangay Ginebra.
He replicated that success in the Commissioner’s Cup, but in a bigger spotlight as the southpaw guard took Finals MVP honors after surviving the same opponent in seven games.
Nambatac, however, sustained a groin injury in the Philippine Cup eliminations and was not reactivated for the playoffs when it appeared that he would be available. TNT still reached the Finals, despite injuries to key men, before losing to San Miguel Beer which cut short dreams of a rare trifecta.
That shortcoming is something Nambatac and the Tropang 5G will use as motivation going into the 50th season, especially with the All-Filipino as the opener.
TNT retooled in the offseason, bringing in Kevin Ferrer and Tyrus Hill while also drafting Sean Quitevis. Jordan Heading and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser are set for full campaigns, and Calvin Oftana and RR Pogoy return healthy.
Nambatac, now fully recovered, is also eager to regain his form. ‘I hope I can play the same way I did before the injury entering the all-Filipino,’ Nambatac said. ‘We will put a lot of effort to make sure that we make the playoffs again, and then we’ll see how far we can go.’