PBA: Rey Nambatac hits clutch 3 as TNT takes 2-1 lead vs Ginebra

Rey Nambatac played probably his best playoff game with TNT. PBA Images

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--In a game where Ginebra still showed heart without arguably its main man down the stretch, Rey Nambatac broke their hearts.

Nambatac, who is expected to step up further for TNT with Jayson Castro's season-ending injury, delivered when it mattered the most as he hit a huge triple that helped the team take an 87-85 win in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner's Cup Finals on Wednesday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.

Nambatac saved a clutch play for the Tropang Giga that saw Calvin Oftana miss an open layup by hitting corner three with 30.1 seconds left, breaking an 82-all tie.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson then picked RJ Abarrientos' bad pass that eventually led to Glenn Khobuntin's layup that upped their lead to five, 87-82.

Scottie Thompson kept the Gin Kings in the game with a corner three with 2.6 seconds left, but knowing that his opponents would try to foul him quickly to stop the clock, Nambatac simply threw up a four-point attempt after he received the inbound pass before he got fouled so the last two seconds of the game would just run out.

Nambatac led TNT, now 2-1 up in the best-of-seven series, with 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting including 5-of-7 from three-point range, five rebounds, and seven assists.

Hollis-Jefferson, who played with a wounded cheek in the end, added 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and one steal.

Justin Brownlee was on track for another explosion as he led Ginebra with 19 points, four rebounds, and six assists, but he left the game midway through the third quarter after dislocating his right thumb.

He was rushed to the nearest hospital and never returned to the game.

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