Calvin Oftana and TNT will march on to a fourth straight PBA Finals dating back to Season 49 after their 4-1 win over Meralco in the Philippine Cup semis.
Known more as a lethal scorer, Calvin Oftana made a couple of big defensive plays in TNT’s series-clinching 99-96 win over Meralco in Game 6 of the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup semifinals.
In the dying seconds, Oftana was given the daunting task of ensuring CJ Cansino — who, by this time, already had 36 points for the Bolts — would come up empty-handed the rest of the way.
He got the job done, first by swatting away Cansino’s layup, then staying in front of him during the latter's last three-point attempt.
[WATCH: TNT frustrates Meralco in epic Game 5 reversal, advances to Finals | Fantastic Finish]
“When the game is on the line, depensa kami, kailangan talagang ibuhos ang lahat,” Oftana said after the match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.
“I’m happy na binigyan pa ako ng strength ni Lord na dumepensa that time.”
Commissioner Willie Marcial, however, later felt there was supposed to be a foul called against Oftana in the first one.
Marcial said he suspended referee Jeff Tantay for missing the said call.
[RELATED STORY: PBA referee suspended for missing crucial foul by Oftana against Cansino in semis Game 5]
But that did not take away anything from Oftana, who described the cardiac game as one of the most epic games this conference.
“Isa 'yon sa pinaka-epic na game ng PBA this conference. I think it is, aside doon kay Holt,” he said, referring to Stephen Holt’s game-winning three against Converge in the quarterfinals.
Rey Nambatac and Jio Jalalon react during Game 5 of the TNT-Meralco semifinal tussle in the PBA Season 50 Philippine Cup Wednesday, Jan 14. | Photo: RM Chua/One Sports
Now in his fifth year in the PBA, Oftana admitted still feeling jittery every game, especially in the playoffs.
“Kung ako ang tatanungin mo, every game, kinakabahan talaga ako. But I love it,” Oftana said.
“Gusto kong may kaba ako sa sarili ko para hindi ako kumpiyansa. Every game is different talaga. Hindi mo alam ano ang mangyayari.”
When the dust settled, Oftana marched on to his fifth Finals appearance in the league and fourth straight with the franchise.
“Grabe. Iba talaga ang pinaghirapan namin. Ito talaga ang dream ng team,” he said.
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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.