Nambatac nails buzzer-beater as injury-plagued TNT nips Converge
At A Glance
- Rey Nambatac drained the game-winning triple at the buzzer as the injury-plagued but gritty TNT edged Converge in a nail-biting 110-107 victory in the PBA Season 50 Governors' Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, July 28.
Rey Nambatac drained the game-winning triple at the buzzer as the injury-plagued but gritty TNT edged Converge in a nail-biting 110-107 victory in the PBA Season 50 Governors’ Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Tuesday, July 28.
With 9.1 seconds left and the game tied at 107-all, Nambatac dribbled the length of the floor before driving hard to the right and then rising for the clutch triple to help the Tropang 5G buck a flat start and end a two-game losing skid.
Nambatac took over and fired 30 points to pick up the scoring after injuries to Jordan Heading and RR Pogoy added to the manpower woes of TNT which already played without Calvin Oftana, Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
Heading finished with 20 points but exited in the third frame due to a shoulder injury while RR Pogoy tweaked his ankle just a few minutes after. The two never returned to the game.
TNT improved to a 2-2 record in the Group A standings.
The Tropang 5G also recovered from a lethargic start that allowed the FiberXers to race to a commanding 16-0 lead.
TNT came within three, 51-54, but Converge once again built a double-digit spread for the most part of the second half before the Tropang 5G rallied back behind Nambatac’s efforts.
A 9-0 spurt turned a 98-103 deficit into a 107-103 advantage. Jamal Franklin tied the game with four free throws to set the table for Nambatac's heroics.
Franklin announced his return to the PBA with 30 points while Justin Baltazar and Mikey Williams had 21 and 17 — all of which went for naught as the FiberXers slid to a 3-2 slate