By: Rylie San Juan, Kim Yoshi Espiritu
Photo from: PBA Rush
After turning heads in their pre-professional basketball careers, Colegio de San Juan de Letran alumni, Glenn Khobuntin and Rey Nambatac, now stand at the apex of Philippine basketball competition.
On the evening of November 8th, the TNT Tropang Giga secured their second straight PBA Governer’s Cup championship trophy after dealing with Barangay Ginebra San Miguel in Game 6, 95-85.
This TNT lineup stands out as one of the most accomplished in the league, packed with players who bring impressive international experience. Adding to their edge, TNT’s roster has the boost of both Cagayan de Oro natives, giving the team an even stronger chance at victory.
Rey “Stingrey” Nambatac joined Tropang Giga early in July and made an instant impact with crafty playmaking and scoring. His numbers on the professional scene was a testament of his glory days in Letran where he built a shrine of accolades including the NCAA Juniors Rookie of the Year, MVP, and the Seniors’ Season 91 Championship.
In a post-game interview, the guard admitted that the 7-year chase he went through was discouraging and it was draining his energy for the game. But, he showed that a true Letranite never backs down, not wasting the chance to play his heart on the hardwood despite dislocating his finger in their six-game matchup against the Rain-or-Shine Elasto Painters.
“Blessing in disguise na napunta ako sa TNT, ‘yun naging motivation. Ito yung pinaka-best shot ko na makatikim ako ng finals and makapag champion. Finally, masasabi ko na isa na akong champion dito sa PBA” , Stingrey said after contributing 12 points in their win.
Another former Letran Squire was part of this run. This time, the 6-foot-4, Glen Khobuntin who prides himself as a defensive anchor, kept Justin Brownlee at bay the entire series, forcing him into underwhelming production.
Khobuntin now has a number of titles under his belt, winning three championships with the team where he first joined during the pandemic recovery in 2021.
The two-time best import and Jordan’s naturalized player, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, rose to the occasion scoring 31 points, grabbing 16 boards and dishing out 8 assists. While the PBA mainstay and veteran, Jayson Castro, was still capable of blurring opponents as he was named ‘Finals MVP’ for his 10.3 points, 5.1 assists, 3.0 rebounds averages per game.
While the Tropang Giga are expected to celebrate with their respective community and fans, Stingrey still has a duty to fulfill as the Knights’ assistant coach, providing them with a championship boost in hopes of bettering their final-four run.