Blackwater could have easily preserved a 5-0 record if not for the crucial free throw misses in its last two losses.

 First, it was Rey Suerte who botched four free throws inside the final two minutes of the Bossing’s 103-97 loss to the NLEX Road Warriors.

And then last Saturday, March 16, it was Rey Nambatac who split a potential game-sealing trip to the foul line and instead left a window open for a Juami Tiongson's trey that completed Terrafirma’s 92-91 escape over Blackwater.

“Dalawang games na ganun kami free throw ang naging basehan,” said Nambatac after the game.

“Sayang eh, andun na sana, mananalo na sana kaya lang yung free throw di na natutukan masyado kaya nagbayad tuloy kami,” he added.

Nambatac shared that it actually felt good when the ball left his hand on the second free throw but the ball surprisingly bounced in and out of the ring. 

Andreas Cahilig collared the rebound and immediately went to Tiongson who fired the booming triple immediately after racing into the Blackwater backcourt.

“Kala ko talaga pasok na eh lumuwa lang. Nangyayari talaga iyon breaks of the game lang,” said Nambatac.

“‘Yung sa seconds din na iyon ang daming nangyari ang dami naman opportunity na dapat di na nangyari yung kay Juami. Actually may fouls to give kami na isa kaso sa ganun kabilis na laro na sitwasyon di mo na maisip yon,” he added.

After the hot start to the conference, Blackwater has now absorbed two straight losses for a 3-2 slate, and Nambatac and the rest of the Bossing hope to snap the slide.

“Hopefully sa next game namin maovercome namin magawan namin ng paraan,” he added.