FOR Rey Nambatac, there’s no point waiting for life after basketball – especially when it’s a matter of paying it forward for his alma mater.
The Blackwater guard recently joined the Letran coaching staff as a player-development coach under first-year shot-caller Allen Ricardo.
Since starting last April, Nambatac has been active in the preseason training and games of the rebuilding Knights, with whom he won an NCAA championship back in 2015.
Balik Arriba
Juggling professional basketball and his newfound role, Namabatac bared it was no easy task, but also felt it was the right thing to do at this point in his career.
“Darating din naman talaga ako dun, pero kahit naman before, I’ve felt na ito din gagawin ko dahil sa pagiging natural-born leader ko,” he told SPIN.ph.
“For me, start early kasi kailan pa kung hindi ngayon? Kumbaga even before my career ends, dapat may naka-set nang path, and this is it for me.”
That's exactly why the seven-year PBA veteran didn’t even have to think about it when Ricardo offered him the job. It was all for beloved alma mater, after all.
“If hindi Letran, magdadalawang-isip ako, pero dahil thankfully, it’s Letran, I just know it’s time to give back to the community na nag-mold sa akin kung nasaan ako ngayon,” he explained.
Nambatac was a star for the Knights from his rookie year onto his fifth and final season - as well as for the Squires before that. And so, he's long been used to the sacrifice that comes with staying and struggling inside the walls of Intramuros.
Besides, he’s already found a workaround for his new schedule.
“Blackwater practice sa umaga, tapos hapon, imbis na matulog lang ako, sa Letran ako. Nakakatulong din kasi sumasabay ako sa practice nila, nakukundisyon din,” he said.
From 'Sting-Rey' to 'S-teacher-Rey'
And even better, the 5-foot-11, Cagayan de Oro native is learning just as much from this current crop of Knights as he has been teaching them.
“For me, as a coach, para maging effective ka, kailangan vocal ka sa court, and ganon ako as a player, kaya tinanggap ko 'to,” he said.
“As a player-development coach, ang lagi kong ine-emphasize naman ay right decision-making, disiplina dahil ang college, crucial (na) ma-polish ka para malaman if fit ka sa pro level.”
Nambatac continued: “Akala ko nung nag pro ako, marami na kong alam, pero since ginawa ko 'to, marami pa pala akong dapat matutunan.”
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