Romwel Anzures

TNT Tropang 5G star Rey Nambatac against San Miguel Beermen guard Juami Tiongson in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div style="line-height:1.5"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1769421066937IMG_9765.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>TNT Tropang 5G star Rey Nambatac against San Miguel Beermen guard Juami Tiongson in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals. Photo from PBA Images.MANILA — Rey Nambatac knocked down one of the tougher shots in Game 3 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Finals on Sunday, but CJ Perez made the toughest ones count.</div>“Wala eh. Yun talaga galaw ni CJ, kahit alanganin yung tira, nashu-shoot talaga,” Nambatac said after the TNT Tropang 5G absorbed an 89-95 loss which allowed the San Miguel Beermen to grab a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven affair.<div style="line-height:1.5"><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/basketball/2026/1/25/pba-perez-comes-up-clutch-as-san-miguel-takes-2-1-lead-over-tnt-2211">READ: Perez comes up clutch as San Miguel takes 2-1 lead over TNT</a></div>Perez drilled a backbreaking four-pointer with 41 seconds left to put the Beermen on top, 90-89, erasing Rey Nambatac’s go-ahead three-pointer 39 seconds earlier.On the play, the veteran San Miguel gunner got open after June Mar Fajardo set the screen, forcing Henry Galinato to switch onto him.The switch freed Perez from Nambatac for the said four-point shot, which he later followed with a three-point dagger in the final 12 seconds to effectively shut the door on the Tropang 5G.But while the ex-Colegio de San Juan de Letran star lamented the sequence, Nambatac said TNT executed what was asked of them defensively.“Breaks of the game talaga eh, nangyayari yung ganun,” he said. “Switch talaga. Yun ang game plan, and switchable naman talaga. Actually, it was good defense from Henry. Na-late lang siya ng isang step, pero good challenge pa rin.”“Nakapanghihinayang. Masakit sa loob ko, masakit sa dibdib ko, masakit na pagkatalo. Pero motivation na lang yun para sa akin,” he added.TNT built momentum by clawing back from a 17-point deficit and taking an 11-point lead in the second half behind a second-quarter surge, only for Perez to spoil the Tropang 5G’s party.However, Nambatac stressed that TNT cannot afford to dwell on the setback, especially against a team of San Miguel’s caliber.“Knowing SMB din, they don’t give up that easily,” he said. “Lesson learned for us. May mga few mistakes, pero for sure, next game mag-a-adjust kami.”Looking ahead, Nambatac added that stamina and conditioning will be key as the series grinds deeper.“Ang concern talaga is yung fatigue,” he said, as they look to avoid a 3-1 hole.Fortunately for the Tropang 5G, they have time to regroup, with Game 4 scheduled on Wednesday, January 28, at 7:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. <div style="line-height:1.5">RELATED VIDEO: <iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4g1T4CD0I2s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></div>

#PBA50 || “Masakit sa loob ko, masakit sa dibdib ko, masakit na pagkatalo. Pero motivation na lang yun para sa akin,” said Nambatac after TNT's Game 3 loss in the #PBAFinals.

#PBA50 || “Masakit sa loob ko, masakit sa dibdib ko, masakit na pagkatalo. Pero motivation na lang yun para sa akin,” said Nambatac after TNT's Game 3 loss in the #PBAFinals.

PBA: ‘Masakit na pagkatalo,’ says Rey Nambatac after Game 3 slips away from TNT

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

Basketball

PBA: ‘Masakit na pagkatalo,’ says Rey Nambatac after Game 3 slips away from TNT

Rom Anzures,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 26, 2026 06:31 PM PHT

Read More:

Basketball

PBA

PBA Season 50

ABSSports

ABSNews

PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup

PBA 50

PBA 50 Philippine Cup Finals

San Miguel

TNT

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.