NOT even a dislocated finger can stop Rey Nambatac from playing in his first-ever PBA Finals.
The 30-year-old guard is good to go for TNT in the Governors Cup Finals against Barangay Ginebra, which kicks off on Sunday at the Ynare Center in Antipolo.
Longtime TNT physical therapist Dexter Aseron said Nambatac has been practicing with the team even after dislocating his pinkie finger in the final minutes of the team’s closeout win over Rain or Shine last week in the semifinals.
COLUMN: Stephen Holt braces for tough assignment guarding RHJ
“Yes he’s been practicing. Naibalik din naman (dislocated finger) agad after the game,” said Aseron.
Nambatac suffered the injury with 5:37 left in Game 6 and TNT already holding a 19-point lead when Luis Villegas tried to swipe a pass by Glenn Khobuntin to the veteran guard out of Letran.
While Nambatac managed to catch the ball, he grimaced in pain shortly after, leading him to commit a travelling violation.
The defending champion Tropang Giga won, 113-95, to clinch the first berth to the finals.
Nambatac said he had the injured pinkie also checked at the hospital a day after the win.
“Nothing serious. Kaya naman,” he said. “Buti naman nakapag-pahinga pa ako. Buti may araw na nakapag-pahinga and recover.”
The best-of-seven title series will be the first ever for the seven-year veteran, who was acquired by TNT just before Season 49 following a trade with Rain or Shine for two future draft picks.
Nambatac played a major role in the Tropang Giga returning back to the finals as he ended up tied with Calvin Oftana as the top scorers among TNT locals in the semis, averaging 14.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists.
He also emerged with the best average among TNT players from beyond the arc after going 9-of-20 (45 percent).
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
