Oro’s Nambatac still proud of NCAA career
MANILA--Rey Nambatac has no reason to feel ashamed. As his NCAA career came to an abrupt close, Nambatac expressed pride in how Colegio de San Juan de Letran competed in Season 93, adding that he is satisfied with what he was able to achieve in his collegiate basketball career.
“Hanggang dito na lang ang journey namin this season, pero there’s nothing to be ashamed of,” said Nambatac, who was limited to 11 points on three-of-five shooting in the Knights’ 74-69 loss to San Sebastian College in a playoff game for the last spot in the Final 4 on Tuesday.
“We did our best,” stressed Nambatac, who tried to take over in the fourth quarter of the game after struggling with foul trouble in the first three periods. “Simula sa baba, lumaban kami.”
“Nakipag-compete kami sa mga players na gusto din pumasok ng Final Four. Still, nandito pa rin kami. One step away lang.”
It was unfortunate that Nambatac was unable to make much of an impact in what turned out to be the final game of his NCAA career. He accrued three fouls in the first half and played less than eight minutes. When he returned in the third period, he committed back-to-back turnovers that allowed San Sebastian to mount a rally after the Knights had already seized a nine-point lead.
He scored five points in the fourth frame, but ultimately, the Golden Stags had more weapons in their arsenal.
In all, Nambatac finished with just 11 points, one rebound, two assists, and five turnovers in 21 minutes – a far cry from his usual numbers of 15.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game in the elimination round.
“Malungkot,” Nambatac admits. “Pero para sa akin, we’ll take it as a motivation, kasi ‘di naman dito natatapos ang basketball career ko.”
“Siguro itong season na ito, itong tough loss na ito, dadalhin ko ito kung saan man ako mapunta sa journey ng basketball career ko,” he added.
Nambatac was profoundly grateful to Letran, who took him on as a 15-year-old from Cagayan de Oro. He starred for the Squires for three years, even winning a Juniors MVP trophy, before moving up to their seniors program.
“Noong dumating ako sa Letran noong high school, talagang nasa mindset ko lang noon is maglalaro ako, magpupursigi lang ako para makakuha ako ng full scholarship, para matulungan ko ‘yung family ko na hindi na sila mag-doble sap ag-gasto, kasi tatlo kami magkakapatid eh,” an emotional Nambatac shared after their loss to San Sebastian.
“Nagpapasalamat ako,” he also said. “Ang laki ng pasasalamat ko sa coaches ko noong college, especially kay Fr. Vic (Calvo), because they gave me the opportunity na maipakita ‘yung talent ko, na kaya kop ala lumaro sa big leagues – na ‘di lang pangprobinsya ‘yung laro ko.”
“Thankful ako na binigyan nila ako ng ganitong chance at ginrab ko yung opportunity since day one ko sa Letran.”
While his final season in Letran ended on a sorry note, Nambatac’s collegiate career is still one to remember. He made it to two Finals, and was a key cog of the 2015 Letran team that won the Season 91 championship.
“Siguro para sa akin, not bad na rin ‘yung NCAA career ko. Sa five years ko, naka-dalawang Finals appearance ako at sa pangalawa, nag-champion ako,” said Nambatac.
“Paulit-ulit kong sasabihin na pinakamemorable para sa akin ‘yun bago ako magexit sa NCAA, sa Letran, at least nabigyan ko sila ng championship. Talagang maganda ‘yun kasi no one expected na ganoon ang magiging outcome ng laro namin noon,” he added.
The Knights were unable to defend that championship. They missed the Final 4 in Season 92, even with Nambatac taking the league by storm with his highscoring ways. In Season 93, a brutal start to their campaign hampered their Final 4 chances, and they had to go through knockout games instead of advancing outright.
They are expected to be a much better team in Season 94, with transferees from other universities bolstering coach Jeff Napa’s line-up.
Nambatac, of course, won’t be there, as he expects to be in the “big league” by that time. He applied for the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft and is expected to be a middle to late first-round pick come Sunday.