IN his long years in the PBA, Rey Nambatac hasn't been to the finals not even once.
He's hoping he'll be closer to achieving the dream now that TNT took Game 1 of its PBA Governors Cup semifinals series against Rain or Shine.
Nambatac showed how much we wanted it by scoring 14 points including 11 in the third quarter and grabbing nine rebounds in the 90-81 Tropang Giga win at the Philsports Arena Wednesday night.
"Isa pa sa mga nakakatawa dito sa journey ko sa PBA, sa seven years ko hindi pa ako naka-experience ng finals appearance," the veteran guard out of Letran said.
"For me ito yung best opportunity ko, yung best shot ko para maka-experience naman ng PBA finals. Kaya siguro maganda yung nilalaro ko dahil motivated ako, yun talaga yung mindset ko."
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The closest Nambatac came to making the finals was in the 2019 Philippine Cup semis when he was still with Rain or Shine.
The series went into a Game 7 that wasn't decided until Rome Dela Rosa nailed a controversial three pointer to beat the shot clock in a 63-60 win by the Magnolia Hotshots.
Now the 30-year-old guard is getting close to realizing his dream anew.
Too bad, he has to do it the expense of his former team.
"Ang dami kong pala-isipan. Kasi isang conference pa lang ang nakalipas, sila (Rain or Shine) agad yung nakaharap ko," said Nambatac, acquired by TNT in a trade with Blackwater prior to Season 49.
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"Sabi ko nga hindi ba puwedeng next year na lang kami mag-kaharap kasi parang ang bilis naman ng pangyayari," the TNT playmaker said in between laughs. "Pero siguro may reason bakit kami nagharap kaagad. Pero all love lang. No hate, all love. Kung hindi naman din sa kanila (Rain or Shine), wala rin naman tayo dito."
May the best team wins. (RG)
