EARLY in the year, Rey Nambatac found himself bogged down with uncertainty, as he got traded from Rain or Shine, the team that drafted him in the 2017 PBA Draft, and landed with Blackwater, a squad that isn’t exactly known for stability.
Little did he know that by the end of the year, he’ll be calling himself a PBA champion as part of one of the premiere franchises in the league in TNT, while also getting the opportunity to give back to his alma mater on the Letran coaching bench for NCAA Season 100.
That’s why Nambatac couldn’t be more grateful for how life got back to him in a good way before the year ended.
“Itong taon na ’to, maraming ups and downs and for me naman, mas naglu-look ako sa mga positive side, sa mga blessings na dumating sakin,” Nambatac said.
“Last February, I was traded to Blackwater, then after one conference, na-trade naman ako sa TNT. Yun ang mga downs ko na parang siyempre as a player, medyo mabigat sa loob pag nate-trade ka. But you have to accept the fact na ganun talaga ang buhay ng player.”
READ: Through ‘learning experience,’ Chot Reyes, TNT overcome adversity
He even shared how he thought his career was on the decline after getting shipped again a conference later, but he was glad to have been proven wrong, as he played a massive role in the Tropang Giga’s title run in the Governors’ Cup when they bested Barangay Ginebra in a blockbuster six-game series.
In the middle of that upward transition, he was also given the opportunity to dabble in coaching as part of Allen Ricardo’s staff with the Knights.
“With TNT, akala ko unti-unti na mag-slow down ang career ko, pero na-prove ko sa sarili ko na kaya pala. Nag-champion, unti-unti, umangat ulit yung career ko, nabuhay ulit,” he said.
“Tapos nabigyan pa ng opportunity na maging part ng coaching staff ng Letran. Grateful talaga.”
Coach Rey gladly gives back
Even as Nambatac was in the middle of reviving his PBA career, he didn’t think twice when Ricardo came calling and asked him to be one of his deputies.
The 30-year-old really made it a point to squeeze in that coaching role into his tight schedule, as he wants to give back to his alma mater as much as he can.
“Nung tinawagan ako ni coach Allen kung gusto ko maging part ng coaching staff niya, hindi ako nagdalawang-isip. Ito lang yung paraan ko para maibalik ko yung magandang naitulong sa'kin ng alma mater,” he said.
“Kung titingnan mo naman talaga, kung walang Letran, walang Rey Nambatac ngayon e.”
And it’s in cases like this where Nambatac’s voice in the locker room is certainly much-appreciated.
With the Knights falling short in their campaign for an NCAA Final Four return no thanks to a 67-65 loss to Arellano, Nambatac relayed his own experiences of losing in the past to his younger peers, noting that those losses shaped him to become the player he is today.
READ: Brave Arellano puts an end to Letran's playoff push
“Kinulang man, pero sabi ko kanina sa huddle na itong pagkatalo niyo, itatak niyo 'to sa puso niyo kasi in the long run, magagamit niyo rin 'to sa career niyo,” Nambatac shared.
“Itong pagkatalo na ’to, malaking tulong 'to for you guys to become a better person, a better player,” he added.
“Ako, I’ve been here many times, madaming mga painful losses, pero ito yung nakataulong sa'kin para mag-grow pa as a better player. Yun ang sinabi ko sa kanila.”
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