After much speculation, Rain or Shine finally decided to ship Rey Nambatac to Blackwater in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2024 and a second-round choice in the 2025 Philippine Basketball Association drafts.

No less than Elasto Painters team owner Raymond Yu made the confirmation to Daily Tribune, saying that they are parting ways with Nambatac with a heavy heart.

Yu said Nambatac was his personal choice during the 2017 Rookie Draft, prompting the franchise to tap him with the seventh overall pick following a stellar campaign with Letran College in the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

But with Yeng Guiao making a return as head coach, the Elasto Painters adopted a fast-paced brand of game, paving the way for teams to express their intention to acquire Nambatac.

"Ever since high school, I like the way he plays," said Yu in a telephone interview.

"That's why he was my personal preference during the 2017 Rookie Draft."

Yu said he gave Guiao the freedom to assemble the squad.

"I told him that whatever you think is best for the team, then do it," Yu said, adding that the deal was already agreed in principle but has yet to be formally approved by league commissioner Willie Marcial.

Speculations have it that the Bossing will just be a pit stop for Nambatac as he is also being wooed by the TNT Tropang Giga, which is looking for a rock-solid scorer following the departure of Filipino-American hotshot Mikey Williams.

But if ever Nambatac stays with the Bossing, he will be reunited with his former teammates Bradwyn Guinto and James Yap, who signed a one-year deal with the Bossing last week.