Leonard Santillan and Calvin Oftana are similar in more ways than one as far as the game is concerned, and their matchup could spell the difference in the Rain or Shine-TNT PBA Philippine Cup semifinals series.
Rain or Shine's Leonard Santillan is embracing the task of going up against Grand Slam-seeking TNT in the PBA Season 49 Philippine Cup semifinals.
As the Elasto Painters booked a fourth-straight appearance to the PB semis, Santillan is most especially looking forward to his matchup with fellow winger Calvin Oftana.
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“Si Calvin [Oftana] parehas naman kaming mukha, so kahit magpalitan kami ng mukha, pwede. So ready lang ako,” Santillan quipped, also alluding to Rain or Shine's growing "Elasto Pogi" persona among online discussions.
But the two top players aren't only physically alike.
Like Santillan, Oftana has also been instrumental in the Tropang 5G overcoming the absence of injured stars Jayson Castro and Rey Nambatac this conference.
At the end of the elimination round, Oftana is in the race for the Best Player of the Conference award with averages of 20.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 32 assists, and 1.1 steals.
Santillan, meanwhile, has also delivered for the Elasto Painters, norming 14.7 points and 8.3 rebounds. In the knockout win to tow Rain or Shine into the next round, he poured 24 points against NLEX.
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But the Rain or Shine cager from Cebu knows they would need everyone to best Oftana and the Tropang 5G in a best-of-seven series.
Santillan is ready for war which begins on Wednesday, June 25 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“Nandito naman ako, ready para tumulong sa team. Kung ano kailangan andito ako lagi,” he said.