CALVIN Oftana will undergo a long-planned surgery on his right toe once the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals is over.
The TNT forward has been playing with an infected foot that surgery is the only option left during the season break.
Unfortunately, that means Oftana will skip playing for Gilas Pilipinas in the fifth and final windows of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers and the Asian Games.
“Masakit na siya. Kailangan na talaga mag-surgery,” said Oftana, showing to SPIN.ph the photo of the infected toe. “Right now nagte-take lang ako ng pain reliever.”
The 30-year-old Oftana approached Gilas coach Tim Cone during the PBA finals presser on Monday to tell him about his health issue.
Gilas team manager and program director Alfrancis Chua has also been notified about it.
“Nagsabi na ako kay coach Tim. Sabi niya nga, 'We will miss you,'” said Oftana of his conversation with the national coach.
The former NCAA MVP assured though, he’ll be suiting up for reigning champion TNT in its title series against Barangay Ginebra starting on Wednesday.
Gilas is set to see action in the final two windows of the qualifiers on the road next month.
The Filipinos will play New Zealand in Auckland on July 3 and then travel to Perth for their July 6 meeting with Australia.
The Philippines currently occupies second place in a tie with New Zealand in Group, but is already secured of a berth in the second round to be played in late August.
By September, Gilas will be going to Nagoya, Japan where it tries to defend the basketball gold in the 20th Asian Games.
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