Nambatac hopes to be better facing ‘teacher’ Abarrientos

TNT guard Rey Nambatac will be the first to admit it: Barangay Ginebra’s RJ Abarrientos schooled him in Game 1 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals.

The Tropang 5G absorbed a 102-100 loss to the Gin Kings in Wednesday’s series opener at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, with Abarrientos once again delivering a masterful offensive performance.

Tasked with slowing down the reigning Rookie of the Year, Nambatac found himself facing one of the toughest assignments in the league. Instead of making excuses, he tipped his hat to the consensus Best Player of the Conference.

“He plays very differently now. As an opponent, I felt really challenged because I had to study him closely,” Nambatac said in Filipino. “It’s like being a student again.”

“You really have to study every part of his game if you want to limit his scoring.”

Abarrientos put on a clinic, finishing with 24 points, seven assists and a pair of clutch four-pointers down the stretch that helped seal Ginebra’s victory.

Nambatac, the reigning Commissioner’s Cup Finals MVP, was solid in his own right with 19 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Offensively, he held up his end of the bargain.

Defensively, however, he believed there was room for improvement.

“You just can’t stop RJ. That’s probably harder than cleaning up the Pasig River,” Nambatac joked. “If you fall asleep for even a second, he’ll make you pay. He proved that tonight.”

Still, the former Rain or Shine and Blackwater guard relished the challenge of going up against one of the league’s brightest young stars.

That challenge, he hopes, will fuel him heading into Game 2 on Friday at the same venue.

“It’s fun. I enjoy playing against RJ because, as I’ve been saying since last year, he’s a rookie-vet,” Nambatac said. “You can’t take him for granted.”