Calvin Oftana, TNT’s rising star, is ready to become the next most important player for the Tropang Giga franchise.
On Sunday, the third-year forward had another shining moment, this time delivering it for his new team, TNT, which scored a tense 105-103 win over San Miguel Beer and extended its remarkable winning run in the Philippine Basketball Association Governors’ Cup at the Philsports Arena.
Oftana scored a game-winning, buzzer-beating put-back off a missed shot by import Rondae-Hollis Jefferson to keep the streak going for the Tropang Giga, who now extended their winning run to six and assumed solo lead in the tournament.
The Tropang Giga will now move up to 8-1 carrying the win that will also serve as a fitting send-off before they leave for Japan to play in the East Asia Super League Champion’s Week.
For Oftana, it was a special moment, harking back to the game-clincher he delivered three years ago during the first bubble tournament in Pampanga while playing for NLEX.
“A lot of guys can score in this team. It just so happened that our import had difficulty scoring the basket in the last play and I just had to get that offensive rebound and score,” said Oftana. “I just provided the things where I can help the team.”
Playing without Roger Pogoy, who was sidelined by an ankle injury, everyone on the Tropang Giga had to step up and Oftana was more than willing to do that.
The Scores:
TNT 105 – Castro 21, Hollis-Jefferson 19, K.Williams 16, Oftana 14, M.Williams 11, Chua 8, Khobuntin 8, Varilla 4, Montalbo 4
SAN MIGUEL 103 – Clark 30, Perez 25, Fajardo 12, Cruz 10, Manuel 8, Tautuaa 6, Enciso 5, Lassiter 4, Bualandi 3, Brondial 0, Ross 0, Brondial 0
QUARTERS: 24-20, 49-48, 83-77, 105-103
