‘Confident’ Nambatac of TNT cops weekly PBA player honors

MANILA, Philippines — Rey Nambatac's starring role in the comeback win over Meralco kept TNT atop the standings of the PBA Philippine Cup.

Knocking down big shot after big shot in getting a 100-98 overtime victory enabled Nambatac to give the Tropang 5G their fourth win in five starts in the conference they hope to win after last season’s Finals defeat.

“It’s all about confidence,” said Nambatac, who was adjudged the PBA Press Corps Player of the Week for the period of October 29 to November 2.

Nambatac was the hands down choice by the members of the group covering the PBA beat over San Miguel Beer’s June Mar Fajardo and Juami Tiongson, Barangay Ginebra’s Japeth Aguilar and Stephen Holt and Rain or Shine’s Santi Santillan.

The southpaw guard had 22 points, 20 of which coming in the second half and extra period, as TNT roared back from a 23-point deficit to stun Meralco.

His four-pointer gave TNT a 90-87 lead late in regulation, though it was negated by a Chris Newsome triple that sent the game to overtime after Nambatac missed another four-point attempt that could have iced it.

But Nambatac would make up for that miss in the final seconds of the extension when he came through with the winning jumper off Chris Banchero to seal the deal for the Tropang 5G.

“Sobrang nanghihinayang talaga ako kasi kung pumasok yung pangalawang four, tapos na,” said Nambatac. “Pero naging motivation ko din nung overtime na hindi man four points mashoot ko yung last shot.”