Gilas Pilipinas won’t be with Calvin Oftana when it takes on Guam in the two nations’ home-and-home FIBA World Cup qualifying window. That’s because he has formally begged off from playing due to an injured hamstring, according to Tim Cone.
“He’s already begged off, and apparently he’s gonna be out three to four weeks, which takes him past Guam,” Cone said of the 6-foot-5 gunner who has been a mainstay of the Cone-era national squad. “[Calvin’s] definitely one guy that could have helped, so we’ll have to fill him with somebody. We will figure it out as the week progresses.”
Oftana averaged 4.8 points and 2.0 rebounds in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, and 3.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in the FIBA Asia Cup, where he played just three games after injuring his ankle early in the tournament.
Will Calvin Oftana Miss PBA Games, Too?
If Cone’s timetable holds true, Calvin Oftana won’t just miss Gilas duties but also an all-important clash between his TNT Tropang 5G and the San Miguel Beermen when the PBA Philippine Cup resumes on December 5.
Oftana missed TNT’s November 15 loss to the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters due to the same hamstring injury. Counting that game, Oftana would be on his third week of rest and recovery when TNT takes on San Miguel in a rematch of the Finals of the last Philippine Cup. Meaning, there could be a chance he plays, although it wouldn’t be much of a surprise if the Tropang 5G hold him out just to be sure.
It’s also possible Calvin Oftana could miss that game, and even TNT’s showdown with the NLEX Road Warriors on December 13, if his recovery doesn’t go as planned.
Then again, the PBA part of the equation is purely speculation at this point. What’s for certain is Calvin Oftana won’t be playing in Gilas Pilipinas’ two games against Guam.
