REY Nambatac can finally add the word 'PBA champion' in his playing resume.
The 30-year-old guard fulfilled his date with history Friday night after TNT retained the Governors' Cup championship with a 95-85 win over Barangay Ginebra in Game 6 of the finals at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Nambatac finished with 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting including 2-of-3 from three-point range to help the team wrapped up the series, 4-2.
He had a huge corner three early in the fourth quarter to cap an 8-0 run and tie the game at 74-74.
The rest of the Tropang Giga took over from there as they outscored the Kings in the final 12 minutes, 29-11.
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For Nambatac, it was seven years in the making before he gets to live his life-long dream.
"Naka-abot din sa tuktok," said the 30-year-old guard, who toiled his first six seasons with Rain or Shine, the team which picked him no. 7 overall during the 2017 draft.
"Andito na ako finally. Masasabi ko na sa sarili ko na isa na akong champion."
Nambatac has been honest from the very start that his transfer to the telecommunication franchise is what he felt his best shot at winning a very first championship as a pro.
TNT went after him when it lost shooting guard Mikey Williams, but had to give up Kib Montalbo, Jewel Ponferada, and a future draft pick to acquire his services from Blackwater.
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Until the trade pushed through, Nambatac admitted losing hope of winning a PBA crown, much less bagging a championship.
"Minsan nang dumating sa isip ko na nawalan ako ng gana na makaabot pa sa finals," he recalled.
"Blessing in disguise na napunta ako sa TNT. So yun ang naging motivation ko, na ito yung pinaka-best shot ko na makatikim ako ng finals and makapag-champion," said Nambatac.
He did both. Now there could be more to follow.(RG)
