PBA: Calvin Oftana, TNT dedicate Game 4 win to Jayson Castro

FILE-TNT Tropang Giga’s Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Calvin Oftana and Kim Aurin during the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals against TNT Tropang Giga. -MARLO CUETO/INQUIREr.net

MANILA, Philippines—TNT’s Game 4 win over Rain or Shine may hold a big implication in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup semifinals, but it also meant something more for the Tropang Giga and Calvin Oftana.

TNT took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Elasto Painters on Wednesday at Araneta Coliseum, 93-85, in a win dedicated to Jayson Castro, who has been ruled out of the season.

READ: PBA: Love of the game fuels sleepless Calvin Oftana in Game 1 win

“Losing Kuya Jayson is big so these remaining games, we offer it to him,” said Oftana. “He’s a big factor for us and not one person will fill his shoes. It should be us, as a team.”

Oftana led the cavalry with 26 points, four assists and three rebounds in 34 minutes of action despite five personal fouls.

READ: PBA: With Jayson Castro out, TNT ponders ‘long run’

Roger Pogoy followed suit with 22 points, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson scored 17 while Rey Nambatac played the role that Castro left behind with 12 points, six rebounds and two assists.

Coach Chot Reyes, meanwhile, gave a positive update on Castro’s torn patellar tendon injury.

“He’s done with the surgery two days ago so he’s going to go through the long process of recovery which might take at least a year. We’ll be seeing Jayson Castro again maybe next year,” said Reyes.

“We send messages his way and I think his number on our jerseys is statement enough,”  he added.

TNT looks to close out the series for Castro on Friday at the same venue in Game 5 of the semis series.