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.