RIZAL, Philippines – It’s probably not a coincidence that TNT notched the most lopsided win of its PBA Governors’ Cup quarterfinals against NLEX in a game where Calvin Oftana played his best of the series.
Oftana breached double figures in scoring for the first time in the best-of-five affair, helping the Tropang Giga batter the Road Warriors, 109-91, for 2-1 series lead at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Sunday, September 29.
The Gilas Pilipinas forward delivered 18 points with 5 rebounds and 3 assists in Game 3 as he continues to get his groove back after sustaining a busted lip at the end of the elimination round.
Oftana needed 30-plus stitches to patch up his injury, which he suffered following a collision with Arvin Tolentino in their 99-79 romp of NorthPort on September 22.
He groped for form after the incident, averaging just 8.5 points on 35% shooting in the first two games of the quarterfinals as he got scratched off the starting lineup.
“You put yourself in his shoes, it is no joke to try and come back. So he really struggled, not only on offense, but even on defense,” said TNT head coach Chot Reyes of Oftana, whom they acquired from NLEX in a trade two years ago.
“We wanted to ease him in off the bench, which he has been doing since the eliminations.”
Back as a starter, Oftana gave the Tropang Giga a much-needed offensive boost as he shot 7-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-7 from three-point distance.
“After a couple of games that he struggled in, we thought that it was time to bring him back to the starting lineup. As you can see, that is really where he is, I think, most comfortable,” said Reyes.
The resurgence of Oftana bodes well for TNT as it looks to finish off NLEX and punch its semifinal ticket in Game 4 on Tuesday, October 1, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. – Rappler.com
