Nambatac happy to be part of 'rebuilding' Blackwater
Source: The Manila times
Author: Richard Dy
MANILA, Philippines: In the brief time he's with the team, Rey Nambatac admits he is enjoying the culture Blackwater coach Jeff Cariaso is trying to create.
"So far, my transition with the team has been quick, especially under coach Jeff," Nambatac told The Manila Times in Filipino. "I love how coach have me a new role with the team, and with the guidance of my teammates, I learn to work on what I need to improve on."
"I also like the culture coach Jeff is building, which I know he's eager to change. And I'm happy to be part of the rebuilding process especially since the players are starting to get motivated under coach Jeff," he added.
The 30-year-old Nambatac was impressive in his debut game for Blackwater, firing 27 points and issuing 10 assists, in a rare double-double to lead the Bossing to a narrow 96-93 win over the Meralco Bolts.
Though he hurt his ankle in the Bossing's next game, the team went off to a 3-0 start in the Philippine Cup, before dropping back-to-back close matches against NLEX (103-97) and Terrafirma, where former Blackwater guard Juami Tiongson buried the game-winning three-point shot to lift the Dyip to a pulsating 92-91 win last week.
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As a six-year veteran, Nambatac, whom Rain or Shine traded to Blackwater a few days before the start of the conference, shared that he's applying everything he has learned at ROS to his new team.
"In my previous team, I learned to become vocal and to always be a good role model. I don't just contribute on offense and defense, but most especially, show my leadership as well," explained the seventh overall pick of Rain or Shine in the 2017 PBA Rookie Draft.
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The left-handed guard out of Letran said the Bossing are a healthy mix of veterans and up and coming stars, who when they learn to play together with consistency, will be a force to reckon with.
"This team has a lot of potential, from guards to bigs, we're complete. We just need a little more experience because we have a lot of young players, who just need guidance so their confidence can be built up," he said.
With the league in a long break to give way to the PBA All Star festivities scheduled this weekend, as well as the Lenten Season break, Blackwater has enough time to work on its system.
The Bossing return to action on April 6 at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium, where Nambatac gets to face his former team Rain or Shine for the first time this conference.