Sean Chambers is seeing a former teammate in Calvin Oftana with the way he performs in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup of the Philippine Basketball Association.
Chambers, one of the greatest imports ever to play in the country, said Oftana has a lot of similarities with his former Alaska teammate Jojo Lastimosa, who now coaches TNT Tropang Giga.
The 58-year-old American had gotten a closer look at Oftana’s massive potential after serving as Tropang Giga’s special trainer during their preseason training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, Laguna.
He said Oftana carries the same skillset as Lastimosa from their shooting to his defense, basketball IQ, leadership and approach to the game.
“I would say that Calvin has that skill level and determination that reminds me a lot of Jolas (Lastimosa),” Chambers told Daily Tribune in a conversation.
With Filipino-American gunner Mikey Williams out, Oftana became a major part of Tropang Giga’s attack and served as one of their primary sources of offense.
Without Williams, Oftana stepped up, posting 19.7 points, 7.6 rebounds and three assists in their first eight matches.
His impressive performance in the season-opening conference is a strong indication that he is ready to assume the role of the Tropang Giga’s top gun outside prolific import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson.
Still, there’s only one person who should be credited to Oftana’s vast improvement.
Chambers said Lastimosa is responsible for turning Oftana into a cold-blooded gunner, similar to how Tim Cone, the league’s most successful mentor with 25 titles, had groomed him when he was still with Alaska from 1991 to 1999.
“When you talk about Coaching trees and how it filters in the other organization, when you think about Wilfred Uytengsu, and the legacy of Alaska, it started with Tim Cone and Jojo is doing that to TNT,” Chambers said, noting that most of Cone’s disciples blossomed into leadership roles in different capacity.
“And then you also have to give it to Dickie Bachmann, now the head of the Philippine Sports Commission, and Johnny (Abarrientos) is still doing what he’s doing at Magnolia being an assistant coach and Jeff Cariaso is also the head coach of Blackwater. Kenneth Duremdes and Rodney Santos still have that basketball impact in the Philippines.”
Chambers is hoping to be a part of the circle and loves to continue building a legacy in the Philippines — this time in the coaching circle.
“That (coaching) legacy is still in that basketball community in the Philippines,” he said.
“That’s pretty cool for me to watch from afar and maybe have an opportunity for me to come back in and have my imprint in the near future.”
