REY Nambatac couldn’t take his eyes off the Finals MVP plaque during the postgame press conference of Game 7 last Friday.
“Na-in love ako, coach. Eto na ang bago kong love life,” a smiling Nambatac told TNT coach Chot Reyes during the postgame press conference when Reyes noticed that he can’t get his hands off the BPC plaque.
The 31-year-old Nambatac said the Finals MVP is special considering what he went through on the court and even off it.
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“Sobrang blessed kasi, I’ve been through ups and downs in my career. Talagang hindi biro ‘yung pinagdaanan ko,” Nambatac said.
Prior to going to TNT, Nambatac was with Rain or Shine for seven years where he consistently battled in the playoffs. Midway in 2024, however, the Elasto Painters traded him to Blackwater, a team that hasn’t tasted playoff success over the years.
Although he won a championship with TNT during his first conference since being traded by Blackwater last November, his personal life also had its challenges and it became public that he and his college sweetheart Kisha Ancheta broke up.
On the court, just this conference, Nambatac’s numbers dipped especially after Jayson Castro sustained a season-ending injury during the semifinal series against Rain or Shine.
During the first three games of the semifinals, Nambatac only averaged 3.0 points and was held to just two points in Game 3, the first match TNT played without Castro.
“Even itong conference na ‘to when Kuya Jayson got injured, I knew na the pressure is on me talaga. Grabe ‘yung pinagdaanan ko nun kung paano ko na-overcome ‘yung ganung pressure.
"But then again, nung sinubukan kong i-embrace ‘yung challenge na ‘yun, ‘yung pressure na ‘yun. So eto ‘yung naging outcome,” said Nambatac.
Nambatac’s numbers rose and he became a consistent performer in the finals. He ended up as the top local scorer for TNT in the championship with 17.86 points, while also contributing 3.14 rebounds and 3.43 assists in the seven-game series.
With the pressure gone, his focus was to win a championship since it is rare for a team to be in position for back-to-back crowns in a season.
“I didn’t expect naman na maging Finals MVP ako kasi ang focus ko talaga, ang mindset ko, isa lang - makapag-back to back champion ako kasi ang tagal ko na sa PBA, eight years na ako and then, sayang itong opportunity na ito kaya sabi ko, grab ko na ito. Ito na ‘yung best chance ko na makakuha ng kampyeonato sa PBA,” said Nambatac.
Nambatac said Castro congratulated him for winning the Finals MVP - the same trophy that the injured Castro also won when TNT claimed the Governors’ Cup title early in the season.
“Kinongrats niya ako, sabi niya sa akin deserve ko daw ito, way to step up daw doon sa absence niya,” said Nambatac.
“Sabi ko naman sa kanya and even doon sa interview ko na it was all about Kuya Jayson, kasi siya talaga ang naging mentor ko. Naging extra motivation sa akin ‘yung mga advice niya sa akin.
"Nung pumunta siya nung last practice namin, doon talaga nag-spark ‘yung confidence ko lalo, said Nambatac.
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