Photo Courtesy: PBA Images
Juan Karlo Libunao (JKL)
Nambatac impressive in his PBA Finals debut
Rey Nambatac has overcome jitters in his very first game in a championship series and even led the TNT Tropang Giga to victory over Barangay Ginebra, 104-88, in Game 1 of the PBA Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals who was witnessed by 11,021 spectators at the Ynares Center in Antipolo.
Nambatac was named Best Player of the Game after putting up 18 points (12 in the final quarter), 10 rebounds and seven assists in his first Finals appearance.
“To be honest, sobrang kinabahan talaga ako. Kinilabutan ako. Parang nanghihina ang katawan ko. Good thing na-overcome ko,” said Nambatac. “Good thing noong second half, noong unti-unti ko nang nakuha ang rhythm, nagtuluy-tuloy na.”
Jayson Castro was also vintage in helping TNT win the first game of the series by providing leadership to set the tone for his team and scored 12 of his 14 in the third period, mostly coming off against rookie RJ Abarrientos.
Poy Erram and RR Pogoy tallied 15 and 14 markers, respectively, to complete the supporting cast and taking the heavy load from their import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson who only scored 19 points, his lowest output in the playoffs, but still managed to grabbed four rebounds, dished off four assists, stole the ball once and swatted three shots.
The Tropang Giga has dominated the game from the beginning recording a 19-4 start. From there on, TNT never looked back even though Ginebra brought down the lead to single digits multiple times but the winning team always had an answer to the Gin Kings run.
TNT also limited Ginebra’s three-point shooting to their lowest output in the playoffs tallying on to 2-of-21 from downtown, while they fired on all cylinders with a high clip of 52.7 percent from the field.
The Tropang Giga’s game plan was to take away the strengths of the Gin Kings according to TNT head coach Chot Reyes.
“We know the strength of Ginebra. We are a very data-driven team. We looked at the numbers and we focused really on that, taking away their strengths and making sure that we lean on what are strengths really is which is our ability to stop teams,” said Reyes.
Meanwhile, Justin Brownlee led Ginebra with 23 markers, seven boards, and six dimes, but only shot 1-of-5 from the four-point territory and 0-of-2 from threes. Japeth Aguilar added 14 points and six rebounds, while Ralph Cu had 13 points, five rebounds, and six assists for the Gin Kings.
Game 2 of the series is set on October 30, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. at the Smart-Araneta Coliseum.
TNT 104 – Hollis-Jefferson 19, Nambatac 18, Erram 15, Castro 14, Pogoy 12, Oftana 9, Aurin 8, Khobuntin 5, Williams 2, Heruela 2, Galinato 0, Payawal 0.
Barangay Ginebra 88 – Brownlee 23, J. Aguilar 14, Cu 13, Holt 12, Ahanmisi 10, Thompson 7, Abarrientos 5, Pinto 2, Tenorio 2, Mariano 0, Pessumal 0, Adamos 0.
Quarters: 27-15; 43-22; 72-62; 104-88.
