REY NAMBATAC completed a rare four-point play at crunch time as Rain or Shine brought down defending champion San Miguel Beer, 87-83, on Tuesday night in the Philippine Basketball Association Philippine Cup at the Angeles University Foundation Gym.
Nambatac was at the right place to recover a loose ball from Javee Mocon, but the former Letran standout was in no logical position to make a three with the game on the line and the Elasto Painters holding a precarious 81-79 lead over the Beermen.
But Nambatac nailed the three-pointer with an unorthodox shot for Rain or Shine’s 85-81 cushion with 12 seconds left.
Terrence Romeo buried a jumper to cut the deficit, 85-83, with a second left. Mocon made it a four-point win for the Elasto Painters with two free throws off Chris Ross’s foul.
That four-point play was Nambatac’s only production in the game, although he hauled down seven rebounds and dished out four assists.
“We didn’t have any tune-up games so the first quarter was an adjustment for us, but we started pretty well. Knowing San Miguel [Beer], they fight until the end,” Rain or Shine coach Carlos Jose “Caloy” Garcia said.
The Beermen missed June Mar Fajardo’s inside presence and the rebounds department proved just that. They hauled down a total 46 rebounds to the Elasto Painters’ 61 boards.
Mocon, the former San Beda star, finished with 25 points and six rebounds while Kris Rosales made 15 points and big man Beau Belga added 12 points for the Elasto Painters.
Veteran Gabe Norwood only had three points, but hauled down 11 boards for Rain or Shine.
San Miguel Beer drew 18 points from Alex Cabagnot, became the 31st player in the league to score 8,000 points.
Scores:
Rain or Shine 87 – Mocon 25, Rosales 15, Belga 12, Borboran 9, Onwubere 6, Nambatac 4, Torres 4, Norwood 3, Doliguez 2, Wong 0, Yap 0.
San Miguel 83 – Lassiter 20, Cabagnot 18, Tautuaa 17, Romeo 11, Gamalinda 5, Ross 4, Mamaril 3, Santos 2, Escoto 2, Pessumal 1, Zamar 0, De Guzman 0.
Quarters: 25-20; 46-41; 67-54; 87-83