PBA: Calvin Oftana makes room for more success, eyes Gilas stint next

TNT’s Calvin Oftana and executive Ricky Vargas share a moment after the Tropang Giga clinched the PBA Governors’ Cup title. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–In just his sophomore year, Calvin Oftana pulled off what very few have been able to do in their basketball career.

The versatile TNT forward on Friday night won his first PBA title to go to his stacked shelf that features a collegiate and semi-pro crown.

“For me, this is an achievement. I’ve won at (National Collegiate Athletic Association) and the (PBA) D-League. Now, here at the PBA,” he said shortly after the Tropang Giga dethroned Barangay Ginebra, 97-93, in Game 6 of the PBA Governors’ Cup Finals at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Full of promise during his rookie year with NLEX, Oftana was acquired by TNT in September and quickly became an integral cog for the stacked Tropang Giga.

TNT’s Calvin Oftana against Ginebra’s Justin Brownlee. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

The former San Beda Red Lion and NCAA Most Valuable Player averaged 13.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.0 steals coming off the bench in this Governors’ Cup.

He was just as key in the championship series, with his finest performance coming in Game 5 where he scored 20 points that went with eight rebounds.

“I’m overjoyed that we were able to get this one,” he said.

High on cloud nine, Oftana, however, knows that basketball isn’t stopping for him as he hopes to be one of the many pros tapped for the Gilas Pilipinas team tasked to retake the gold medal in the Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next month.

“Hopefully I could also make it to Gilas (again), in the SEA Games,” he said. “This (year) has really been a dream come true for me.”