The Sting that stung Ginebra

Rey Nambatac got TNT coach Chot Reyes’ nod to start in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the PhilSports Arena last Wednesday and didn’t disappoint. It was Nambatac’s first start in the Finals. Reyes made him a sixth man in the last two games of the Rain or Shine semifinal series to provide firepower from the second unit. He had the same thing in mind in the first two games of the Finals against Barangay Ginebra.

Reyes, however, had a change of heart in Game 3. Nambatac averaged 12 points in Games 1 and 2 while Brian Heruela was scoreless in two starts. Paying Reyes back for his trust, Nambatac erupted for 24 points, including five of seven triples and registered his highest output in a TNT uniform since joining the Tropa this season. Sting Rey had not scored 20 or more previously for TNT.

Nambatac, 31, was Rain or Shine’s first round pick in the 2017 draft out of Letran and after the Commissioner’s Cup last season, was traded to Blackwater. He played one conference for the Bossing then was dealt to TNT for Kib Montalbo, Jewel Ponferada and a future draft choice. In the Governors’ Cup, Nambatac played on his first championship team with the Tropa, averaging 12 points in 24 games, including 22 starts.

In the elims this conference, Nambatac hit at a 9.5 clip. He fired 18 in TNT’s quarterfinal win over Eastern then slumped to a three-point average in the first three games of the semis. With Jayson Castro out with a knee injury, Nambatac could only score two points in Game 3, opening the door for Heruela to take over his starting spot.

Nambatac’s resurgence was a vindication. His triple snapped a tie to give TNT the lead, 85-82, with 30 ticks to go. Then, Glenn Khobuntin sank an uncontested layup off Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s steal from RJ Abarrientos’ bad pass to open a five-point edge with 13 seconds left. Scottie Thompson’s triple closed out the scoring and TNT held on to win, 87-85.

Justin Brownlee was designated to defend Nambatac at the onset with the idea of delaying the advance of the ball and drawing a mismatch on a switch from a ball screen. But whether it was Brownlee or Thompson or Abarrientos or Maverick Ahanmisi hounding Nambatac, the Sting Rey wouldn’t be denied his moment. He not only delivered the game-high points but also collected five rebounds and seven assists in 35:54 minutes.

Despite Brownlee’s absence with 6:42 left in the third quarter due to a right thumb injury, Ginebra fought courageously and even led, 82-80, on Thompson’s free throw, time down to 2:07. But TNT wouldn’t be denied the tiebreaker. Ginebra’s bench scored 27 points and five players were in double figure points, displaying balance. TNT’s defense, however, hung tough, limiting Ginebra to 41 percent shooting from the field and less than 20 points in three of the four frames. If Brownlee isn’t able to play in Game 4 at Ynares Center, Antipolo, tonight, Ginebra will need to play ferocious defense and generate offense from all hands on deck to equalize the series. TNT can’t afford to relax with or without Brownlee.