CHICAGO - With the legalization of sports betting, it's no longer just an increase in blood pressure and short-term depression that are at stake for diehard Gilas Pilipinas fans during game days.
Hard-earned money is often on the line, and when GCash accounts are sent over betting sites to cover lost wagers, frustration quickly escalates into a tsunami of anger through the muck that is social media.
In the throes of a two-game losing streak in the ongoing FIBA Asia Cup 2025, there is no shortage of Gilas players that fans are assigning blame to. And one of those objects of derision include Calvin Oftana, who's having an uncharacteristically subpar campaign.
In the losses to Chinese Taipei and New Zealand, the TNT star logged only a combined six points, five rebounds, and two assists in 43 minutes and 45 seconds of playing time.
Not only was his output anemic, his shooting was abysmal: 1-for-9 from three and 2-of-13 from the field overall.
PART OF THE JOB.
For a stud of Oftana's caliber - a three-time PBA champ, one of the highest-paid players in the league, and a SEA Games gold medalist, and - you'd think that bringing up his lowlight reel would make him sullen and ill-tempered.
The 29-year old from Dumaguete by way of Cebu was the exact opposite, however - lighthearted and considerate of fans' emotions.
"Maraming bumabatikos sa akin sa social media. Pero ok lang, that's part of being a professional player and member of the national team," he said in a telephone interview from the swanky, five-star hotel that the Philippine team is billeted in while in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Oftana offered no excuses for his limited production, but he had an explanation.
"Mahirap maglaro sa international level. Magaling ang mga kalaban, ang coaching, at lalo na ang depensa," he conceded. "But all I can guarantee is my effort."
Oftana also emphasized that unlike with the Tropang 5G where he is the focal point of the offense, he is a supporting cast member under coach Tim Cone's system that is heavily reliant on Justin Brownlee and Dwight Ramos.
ROLE PLAYING.
"Sabi ni coach Tim sa amin, 'The goal is more important than the role.' So we do what we are asked, while doing other things like defense at saka rebounding," he said.
"Most of his shots are bailout shots, either under duress or with the shot clock winding down," an analyst who broadcasts PBA games said when asked about Oftana's spiraling stats.
Like many elite shooters, his memory of the Chinese Taipei and New Zealand is hazy, jumbled. And that's not because he is trying to be revisionist. He is simply looking forward to the next game.
"I have a role to play and patuloy kong gawin yun sa sunod na laro. Sana mapanalo namin," he said of the upcoming do-or-die match versus Iraq on Saturday afternoon.
READ: Last chance for Gilas, Iraq to stay alive in FIBA Asia Cup
To hold off the Iraqis, Gilas needs Brownlee to be Superman again and for Ramos to be aggressive.
Rediscovering the fire of Oftana's rifle wouldn't hurt, either.
Laban.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
