Calvin Oftana admitted that he is pressured to deliver following his trade to TNT Tropang Giga in the Philippine Basketball Association.
Oftana said there are butterflies in his stomach following his transfer to a champion team like the Tropang Giga heading into the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
The 6-foot-5 forward from San Beda University was part of a three-team deal that also involved Troy Rosario, Gab Banal, Raul Soyud and top overall pick Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser.
He will make his Tropang Giga debut next Wednesday against Magnolia, but this early, Oftana is already feeling the enormous pressure of competing for a championship-caliber squad.
“I can’t wait to play my first game with TNT,” Oftana, a former National Collegiate Athletic Association Most Valuable Player told NSS All Work and Play podcast.
“I’m a little bit pressured because I’m joining a championship-caliber team. I am also pressed to perform well. I won’t be traded there if I won’t be able to make contributions to the team. I’m sure they have plans for me.”
“I have to play my role and do whatever the coaches tell me to do.”
In just his second season, Oftana had improved tremendously.
In fact, he emerged as the second leading scorer for NLEX in the previous Philippine Cup in which he averaged 17 points per game while norming 7.8 rebounds and 1.6 steals per game.
His all-around performance had made him a hot commodity, which is valuable for both the Tropang Giga and Gilas Pilipinas.
Still, Oftana believes that he remains a work in progress.
“I believe I still have to improve on all aspects of the game,” he said.
“I need to work on all the skill set, more on agility, being smart inside the court, decision-making, these are probably the things I really need to improve on. Individual skills, like dribbling, we can improve it within the system.”
Oftana is now ready to embark on a new chapter in his PBA journey and he hopes to contribute in any which way he can while learning the curve of becoming a vital part of a championship contender.
“I’m now with champion players, a lot more experienced than me. This is only my second year, so I need to learn more from them,” Oftana added.
“I’d love to win games with them.”
