TNT Tropang Giga sniper Calvin Oftana is in the midst of arguably his best conference as a pro. The numbers—21.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in TNT’s first four games—aren’t lying. He is also shooting at a prolific rate from downtown, highlighted by the career-high nine triples he shot against the Magnolia Hotshots in the Tropa’s first win of the conference.
The Gilas Pilipinas mainstay continued his superlative play on Tuesday, firing another 24 markers to help TNT beat the Meralco Bolts, 101-99, at PhilSports Arena. He also continued his hot shooting, going 9-for-15 from the field and hitting three triples.
None of this is surprising to the man himself. In fact, he might even be expecting this high level of play. After all, he works on it every single day.
“Kumpiyansa lang,” said Oftana after the match with Meralco when asked about his hot streak. “Mataas talaga kumpiyansa ko kasi ginagawa ko naman ‘yun sa training. Syempre ‘di mawawala ‘yung mga coaches, mga kasama ko, giving me leeway na tumira and coach setting me plays para makatira. Just giving it back to them, ‘yung tiwala nila sa ‘kin.
Indeed, Oftana is repaying that trust big time, and it has helped TNT win three straight after losing their first couple of games to start the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Just TNT Doing Business
Even TNT coach Chot Reyes isn’t surprised at Oftana’s great play. He clarified, though, that the Tropa aren’t doing anything new in particular to give their versatile wing more scoring opportunities. Rather, they are just doing what they do best: Being unselfish and making the right plays.
“We’re running our stuff,” Reyes maintained. “The key is selflessness, the players have to be very selfless, and awareness. They have to be aware where Calvin is, they have to be aware where Roger [Pogoy] and Rondae [Hollis-Jeffferson] are at all times, kasi hindi naman kami bumababa ng walang depensa… Ganun lang laro namin, we empower our players to make plays…”
The Tropa will need to keep making the right plays in their next game, as they take on the red-hot Converge FiberXers on Saturday, January 11, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
And better believe Oftana will be ready for the challenge.
