PBA Finals: Nambatac finds rhythm despite TNT’s Game 1 heartbreak

TNT Tropang 5G’s Rey Nambatac during Game 1 of the 2026 PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals vs Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—TNT dropped Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals at the hands of Barangay Ginebra, but the Tropang 5G went down swinging.

One of the players who fought until the end was Rey Nambatac.

Despite the 102-100 heartbreaker, Nambatac said he has no regrets with how TNT performed in the best-of-seven series opener against the Gin Kings.

That, plus the fact that he was able to find his offensive rhythm–albeit too late.

“I don’t have any regrets because we gave them a good fight and we gave the fans a show,” Nambatac said in Filipino.

“Actually, this is what I wanted, to have my rhythm, timing and confidence. After some three-point shots, I struggled again but personally, my rhythm and timing are there.”

Nambatac finished with 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal in the defeat.

He also knocked down key baskets in the fourth quarter that briefly put Ginebra on edge,  but in the end, Justin Brownlee came through to preserve the Gin Kings’ win.

Nambatac, however, said his experience from last year’s championship run, where he also won Finals MVP, will serve as motivation moving forward in the series.

“I won Finals MVP last year so that doesn’t mean they’ll leave me alone. They made some adjustments on me and it had some good outcomes,” he said.

“I was limited in the first half but it’s extra motivation for me that I won a Finals MVP against Ginebra [last year].”