ANTIPOLO – Rey Nambatac played hero for TNT when he knocked down the marginal jumper in the team’s 100-98 overtime win over Meralco in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup.
READ: TNT denies Meralco in overtime on Nambatac's game-winner
However, he actually could’ve done it much earlier.
After hitting two four-pointers late in the fourth quarter, the fearless guard out of Letran had another four-point attempt that just rimmed out with 30 seconds left in regulation, opening the door for Chris Newsome to make a three-pointer with 17 ticks to go to send the game into an extra session.
Nambatac heaved a sigh of relief after making up for it in overtime, as he drained the game-winner over Chris Banchero.
“Sobrang nanghinayang ako nung last shot nun eh, kasi kung pumasok yun, yun yung turning point, tapos na talaga eh,” Nambatac admitted. “Kaya nung nag-overtime, sobrang nagsisisi ako.”
“Pero naging motivation ko rin nung overtime na kailangan. Hindi man maka-four points, at least nung last shot ko, dun talaga ako nakahinga na at least nabawi ko din yung na-miss ko na four points,” he added.
No problems here with coach Chot
With the Tropang 5G up, 90-87, in the final frame, Nambatac could’ve held on to the ball, milked some time, and possibly drawn a foul that would’ve increased the team’s chances of finishing its comeback off right in regulation.
But TNT coach Chot Reyes didn’t mind seeing Nambatac take that missed four-pointer late in regulation.
“Yeah, kasi dinobol si Roger eh,” he said of RR Pogoy in the offensive possession. “So pag-kick out niya, libreng-libre talaga, sobrang late na yung rotation, and kaka-shoot lang niya ng similar before that, so that was the right decision.”
“Sa amin ganun eh: we call it high-value shots,” he added. “We make sure we’re taking high-value shots. And a wide-open four-point play out of rotation, out of ball movement, for us, is a high-value shot. As long as it’s a 'ROB' shot, which is 'in Range, Open, and Balanced.'”
“Rey was in range, he was open, and he was balanced. Not every shot is going to go in, but hopefully, if we continue taking high-value shots, then we increase our chances of winning,” he continued.
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