“PATAY na nabuhay pa.’
It was the best description Rey Nambatac could offer in TNT’s case after pulling off a miracle comeback in the final 27 seconds to frustrate Meralco, 99-96, and earn a second straight finals stint in the PBA Philippine Cup.
Nambatac finished with 25 points including the game-changing four-point shot with 21 seconds left in Game 5 that suddenly cut a five-point Bolts lead to 96-95.
READ: Nambatac, Heading steal Game 5 from Meralco, lead TNT to PBA Finals
That was followed by a Jordan Heading steal and conversion on CJ Cansino under the TNT basket, and before the Bolts realized what hit them, the Tropang 5G were already back in the saddle, 97-96.
“Thank God, thank you Lord. Alam mo yun, patay na, nabuhay pa kami,” said Nambatac as he made his way out of the Smart Araneta Coliseum following the thrilling win.
“Classic game talaga. Ang ganda ng laban.”
Coming off a sprained ankle, Nambatac hardly showed the effects of the injury as he shot 6-of-11 from the field, grabbed four rebounds and issued four assists.
He actually accounted for six of TNT’s output in that ending 8-0 blast including two free throws with six seconds left that extended the team’s lead to 99-96.
The guard out of Letran said it was TNT’s battery of deputies that kept reminding them about having the chance to steal the game from Meralco with a few seconds remaining to go.
“Credit to our coaching staff, to our assistant coaches bukod kay coach Chot (Reyes). Yung timeout kasi na yun sila (assistant coaches) ang nagsasabi ‘kaya pa ito, kaya pa ito. May oras pa,’” recalled Nambatac of how things transpired at the TNT huddle just before he hit that pressure-packed four-pointer in front of guard Anjo Caram.
Now Nambatac is back in his fourth straight finals appearance with the TNT franchise, and a chance to redeem himself after missing out on the playoffs of last season’s All-Filipino Cup due to a groin injury.
“Sobrang blessed kasi finally ang tagal kong hinintay ito, ang tagal kong pinagdasal ito na makaabot ulit sa finals at makapag-champion,” he said.
Nambatac and the Tropang 5G will have the benefit of a brief rest as they await their finals opponent against either defending champion San Miguel or Barangay Ginebra.
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.
