Calvin Oftana has grow to be TNT’s prime scoring possibility by circumstance. —PBA IMAGES
TNT’s quarterfinal hopes within the Philippine Basketball Affiliation (PBA) Commissioner’s Cup will now largely depend upon how Calvin Oftana efficiently continues to be the workforce’s take-charge man.
Oftana’s efficiency within the Tropang Giga’s loss to Barangay Ginebra on Christmas Day has solidified his standing because the workforce’s prime possibility, particularly with their marketing campaign hounded by the controversial absence of Mikey Williams and accidents of RR Pogoy, Poy Erram and Jayson Castro.
Their newest manpower woe is import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson being dominated out for the remainder of the convention attributable to a neck damage which compelled TNT to play with an all-local lineup in opposition to Ginebra.
“Kailangang kumayod (I have to work laborious),” mentioned Oftana, who completed with 27 factors within the defeat that despatched TNT right down to 4-5, tied for seventh with Rain or Shine.
Rain or Shine will likely be TNT’s subsequent opponent when the marketing campaign resumes in January adopted by a recreation with second-running Phoenix to complete the eliminations.
Hollis-Jefferson’s brother Rahlir will take over for the Tropang Giga.
“We nonetheless have to win a recreation. If we win yet one more recreation, I feel we’re gonna be within the playoffs so the Rain or Shine recreation will likely be essential for us,” mentioned TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa.
Big confidence
Oftana is averaging 20.6 factors in 9 video games this convention, his confidence on an enormous upswing since turning into a part of Gilas Pilipinas’ run to the gold medal on the Hangzhou Asian Video games.
He had two 27- and one 29-point efforts within the final 4 video games because the third-year ahead has not shied away from taking on when wanted.
The Ginebra recreation was an instance of how Oftana will be in cost, as he stored TNT forward till his touches had been restricted within the fourth when the lead disappeared.
“I actually need to step up as a result of we don’t have Mikey, we don’t have guys like Pogoy and now we don’t have Rondae,” Oftana mentioned in Filipino.
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“I feel it’s a part of my recreation [of having to take a bigger responsibility] which the coaches have been demanding from me. I additionally credit score my teammates for placing their belief on me,” he added. INQ