Tag: core

Nambatac deal signals TNT transition to young core

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Rey Nambatac makes his debut for Blackwater Bossing in the PBA Philippine Cup.–PBA IMAGES

The recent acquisition of Rey Nambatac is seen more as a move to help TNT return to its perch as one of the PBA’s perennial contenders.

But Nambatac’s entry to the Tropang Giga camp from the Blackwater Bossing should also continue the transition to a younger core that would ease the responsibilities of those who brought the franchise to multiple championships.

“That’s the plan really,” TNT team manager Jojo Lastimosa told the Inquirer after the Nambatac deal was given a go-signal by the league last Tuesday.

Getting Nambatac meant that TNT had to give up role player Kib Montalbo, big man Jewel Ponferada and a second round pick in the PBA’s 53rd season Rookie Draft which would likely be held in 2028.

Nambatac’s lone conference with Blackwater resulted in averages of 11.1 points on 35-percent shooting with 2.8 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.0 steals in 11 games during the Philippine Cup, showing why he can still produce after his minutes dwindled in his first PBA team Rain or Shine.

He put up 27 in his Bossing debut last February against the Meralco Bolts, and had five games of scoring at least 10 points the rest of the way. His offense at the backcourt position could benefit the Tropang Giga.

And it could also lessen the load carried by longtime guard Jayson Castro, who averaged 12.4 points after playing all 14 games in the Philippine Cup. But TNT knows the 38-year-old Castro needs all the help he can get.

“We don’t have much time for our vets, and we need to transition into younger players,” said Lastimosa.

That transition has been somewhat felt during the recent two-conference season which saw TNT failing to reach the semifinals in both the Commissioner’s Cup and Philippine Cup.

Calvin Oftana has emerged as the Tropang Giga’s go-to-guy on offense, with RR Pogoy, who missed a portion of the Commissioner’s Cup after dealing with a heart ailment, producing numbers as well.

Kelly Williams has taken a bigger responsibility, and has been efficient despite being 42, but TNT missed serviceable frontcourt players due to injuries in Poy Erram and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, who was traded from NLEX before the Philippine Cup started.



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Classy SMB core looking forward to next challenge

On: By: admin


San Miguel Beermen center June Mar Fajardo steers his team in Game 4 of the PBA Philippine Cup Finals against Meralco Bolts. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

San Miguel Beer cornerstone June Mar Fajardo spoke with a lot of class in giving credit where credit was truly due on Sunday night.

And so did two others who have been parts of the Beermen’s fearsome team that ruled the PBA Philippine Cup with a veritable iron hand for most of the last decade.

“It’s a pity since we really feel we could win the championship—that we can win this series. But that’s sports for you. We have to take this loss,” he told reporters in Filipino shortly after an electric 80-78 Game 6 loss to Meralco at the Big Dome that crowned the opposing Bolts as the new all-Filipino champions.

“Maybe this is really Meralco’s [time] to become a champion. Let’s applaud those who need applause, and congratulate those who need congratulations. It hurts that we lost, but that’s life. We’ve won several championships before, right? Maybe it’s just Meralco’s turn now.”

Fajardo pointed out that some moments on Sunday night felt like the game was truly meant for the Bolts to take: “How the ball bounced towards them? Perhaps they were destined to claim this championship. Let’s congratulate Meralco because they played a fine game.”

San Miguel stared at holes as big as 17 points in the first half, then managed to forge a deadlock four minutes into the second half. The Beermen played a tighter game in the third period and even managed to tie the game on Fajardo’s tough triple with three ticks left until Chris Newsome put the series to bed with his signature fallaway jumper.

“The better team won,” San Miguel captain Chris Ross said in a separate chat. “[Meralco was] a well-oiled machine, man. It has been fun, man. Each game went down to the wire. There were no blowouts. So let’s give credit to them.

“Even in games where they felt they should’ve won, they came back like nothing happened, and that takes mental toughness,” he added.

Pretournament favorite

San Miguel was expected to extend its dominance in the tournament following an elimination round campaign where they only suffered one loss. Ironically, that defeat came at the hands of the Bolts.

Marcio Lassiter, the Game 2 hero and another one of San Miguel’s battle-hardened veterans, was just as appreciative of their conquerors.

“They deserve it, and at the end of the day, you just can’t win them all,” he said. “But you know, I’m proud of our players. We went to war and that’s what you expect—we give our all.”

Fajardo, Ross and Lassiter account for over a third of San Miguel’s 29 titles in the PBA. They were shooting for their 11th in this finale against a Meralco side that was playing in its first-ever All-Filipino title series.

With that bid over, the trio is now looking forward to the next chance.

“Whenever we lose a conference, it feels like we fell short of our major goal. Sometimes it happens, you can’t win all the time. Sometimes it’s just a test of character how you bounce back when you don’t meet your goal,” said Ross.



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“I’m excited for what’s in store for us, going forward. Hopefully we could make the adjustments and get back on the winning track.” INQ