Calvin Oftana did not look like he was bothered by his hamstring injury as he helped TNT move a win away from securing a coveted twice-to-beat advantage in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup.
Calvin Oftana is still recovering from a hamstring injury that forced him to sit out Gilas Pilipinas’ recent FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers first window campaign.
But Oftana looked like he was already at his best in TNT’s 113-96 rout of Blackwater in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Friday, Dec. 19.
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The Gilas winger shot six three-pointers, starting with four in the first quarter to give the Tropang 5G a 35-25 start.
Though he has yet to get at full strength, Oftana ended up with a game-high 25 points, two rebounds and two assists.
“Praise the Lord. Talagang slowly getting there. Nakukuha ko na 'yong tiyempo ng laro ko,” said Oftana after the match at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Malate.
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Oftana conspired with RR Pogoy in the opening frame, where they dropped a combined 23 points.
TNT made sure to sustain that sizzling play until the final buzzer.
Pogoy backstopped Oftana with 18 points, whle Henry Galinato had 14 markers, seven boards, three assists, a steal and a block.
Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser and Jordan Heading added 12 and 11 points, respectively, for the Tropang 5G, who are now one win away from a twice-to-beat incentive at 7-3.
“We put a target for ourselves: to limit Blackwater to at least 25 points per quarter. I thought we failed in the first half, but I thought we got better in the second,” said Tropang 5G head coach Chot Reyes.
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Meanwhile, Troy Malilin paced the Bossing with 20 points, three rebounds and two assists.
Sedrick Barefield and Christian David added 13 points apiece for the Bossing, who exited with a 10th straight loss against a sole victory.
TNT vs. Blackwater Scores:
TNT 113 – Oftana 25, Pogoy 18, Galinato 14, Ganuelas-Rosser 12, Heading 11, Khobuntin 8, Aurin 8, Enciso 6, Jalalon 4, Ferrer 3, Nambatac 2, Hill 2, Williams 0, Nieto 0
Blackwater 96 – Mallilin 20, Barefield 13, David 13, Una 12, Guinto 9, Dumont 9, Altamirano 8, Jopia 8, Mendoza 2, Zamar 2, Andrade 0
Quarterscores: 35-25, 66-51, 92-67, 113-96
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Like most sportswriters, Jan Ballesteros once dreamed of becoming a professional hooper. But he learned the hard way that it’s not for everyone.
He continues to be involved in the sport he loves, but this time as a member of the PBA Press Corps. Aside from primarily covering the PBA, he is also assigned to cover Gilas Pilipinas.