PBA Finals: Calvin Oftana bounces back with hot shooting display for TNT
TNT forward Calvin Oftana. PBA IMAGES
MANILA, Philippines—TNT waxed hot from long distance against Barangay Ginebra on Sunday en route to a series-tying victory in Game 4 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals.
Calvin Oftana was one of four TNT players who unleashed four 3-pointers as the Tropang Giga set a PBA Finals record 21 triples in a 116-104 win over the Gin Kings.
The game also served as a big bounce-back performance by Oftana, who scored 16 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field after a 3-point outing in Game 3.
Oftana, however, downplayed his preparation that led to his production that also saw him grab two rebounds, two assists and a steal.
“Nothing special. It was just the same as usual with how I train and prepare before the game. Same as usual,” the former NCAA MVP out of San Beda said in Filipino.
“Coach said, if I get the ball, shoot it. I told him, I got it and luckily, my shots went in to get this win.”
When it came to TNT breaking the 3-point record, Oftana stressed that it was just a product of how the Tropang Giga plays.
“It’s how we play. We take those open shots, if you’re open even if only a second has passed on the shot clock, take it if you’re open.”
Oftana’s hot-shooting was much-needed for TNT, which will have to make do without one of its top gunners in Roger Pogoy for the rest of the finals due to a fractured finger.
“Calvin had a lot of looks tonight due to our spacing and it helps that he played a lot of minutes, too. If it’s your night, it’s your night,” said TNT coach Jojo Lastimosa.
“We had a lot of heroes tonight, not just Calvin but if you guys noticed, Kib was a huge, huge part of this game,” added Lastimosa, referring to guard Kib Montalbo who also erupted for 16 points.
