By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Rey Nambatac buried the most important three-pointer that steered the TNT Tropang Giga to a series-leading Game 3 win over the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, 87-85, in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup grand finals on March 19, 2025, at the Philsports Arena.
With the game deadlocked at 82-all in the last 44 seconds of the ball game, Nambatac broke Ginebra’s hearts after draining the cold-blooded triple that put them ahead in the most crucial stretch, 85-82.
An offensive rebound gifted the Tropang Giga another opportunity to return to the driver’s seat, capped off by a Nambatac trey from the left corner assisted by Calvin Oftana.
It was a wild sequence leading to the game-changing heave as TNT fought hard in the boards to garner back-to-back offensive rebounds. Nambatac had a great look in his first try off a one-handed floater but the shot was too strong and bounced hard out the rim.
Scottie Thompson initially had possession when he was the first to grab the ball but a rowdy scramble in the shaded lane allowed Nambatac to sprint back and steal the leather in the baseline.
Crafty enough to avoid a stepping violation, Nambatac pitched the ball to RR Pogoy to officially save the possession and allowed the Tropang Giga to reset their offensive attack.
In the final 33 seconds of the game with only 11 ticks remaining in their shot clock, TNT executed their swing pass offense to perfection as Oftana found the wide-open Nambatac in the corner who sprayed the go-ahead three-pointer.
The Gin Kings had the chance to inch close or equalize the ball game but RJ Abarrientos fumbled his possession and was defended well by TNT’s ever-reliable veteran Kelly Williams.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson stole Abarrientos’ pass to Jamie Malonzo and calmly fed Glenn Khobuntin for a touchdown layup that ballooned TNT’s cushion to five points, 87-82.
Thompson injected some life into the Ginebra crowd after draining a much-needed three-pointer but time wasn’t on the Gin Kings’ side anymore. In the next possession, TNT head coach Chot Reyes called timeout to map the final play which was executed as Nambatac wasted the remaining two seconds by throwing the ball in the air.
Nambatac was in the zone in Game 3 and top-scored the Tropang Giga with 24 big points including the clutch three-pointer. The leftie guard made up for his Game 2 outing and shot an efficient 9/16 from the field.
Hollis-Jefferson continued to become a force in all departments of the game as the super import delivered an all-around performance of 20 markers, 11 rebounds, eight assists, and a steal.
On the other hand, the Gin Kings unfortunately lost Justin Brownlee midway through the third quarter after fracturing his finger. Ginebra’s resident import didn’t return and was sent to the hospital immediately in the middle of the game.
Before exiting Game 3, Brownlee was bound for another huge night after already tallying 19 points, six dimes, and four boards.
Filling the shoes that Brownlee left was Thompson who almost led the Gin Kings to a win after chipping in 15 markers, eight rebounds, and five assists.
“It took our very best. We actually talked about it when Justin went out, and I told the players that we’re going to see the best Ginebra here, so we have to be at our best,” said coach Reyes after TNT’s gutsy bounce-back dub.
