CALVIN Oftana may set the pace in the MVP race this NCAA Season 95 seniors basketball tournament, but that's the least of his concerns as the bigger goal is to complete the four-peat for the Mendiola crew.
"Hindi ko iniisip yun. I just want to win a championship para masaya kaming lahat," he said after tallying 51.22 PAV.
"Kung nandoon man yun, siguro yun yung payoff sa lahat ng pag-hard work ko. Gustuhin ko man yun o hindi, yung championship yung tinitingnan naming lahat."
That selfless, team-first mentality is what exactly coach Boyet Fernandez has inculcated to this young Red Lions squad, which makes it no surprise that they are still unbeaten through 10 games.
"I always make sure that my players realize that individual awards comes second to winning a championship. I'm happy with Calvin and I appreciate what he's been doing, and I'm happy that he's the leading candidate for the individual awards, but it will be nothing if we will not win a championship," said the four-time NCAA champion coach.
What's different this time out is that San Beda's success has also meant good things for the players, with Oftana and three others earning their spots in the top five of the race after the first round.
Playmaker Evan Nelle sits at second, Cameroonian center Donald Tankoua is at fourth, and Fil-Canadian slasher James Canlas is at fifth in an evident show of force for the Red Lions.
And for Fernandez, it's a testament to the success of the system that has been in place for the Red Lions for years now.
"Evident naman ever since nagsimula ako dito, even when Robert (Bolick) and Javee (Mocon) are here, no one is there on the top but everybody's there in the top 10. Credit to Calvin why he's the leading MVP, and four are in the top 10, so it shows that San Beda plays as a team," he said.
"We will not rely on one player, we rely on everybody. That's why sabi nga ni Calvin, although he's not really starting, it's just a testament that he's a model for this team, that even if he's coming off the bench, he's always stepping up."
Whether or not Oftana becomes the first San Beda player to win the plum since Sudan Daniel did in 2010, he shared that he'll always be grateful. But again, it's team success which he and everyone in red-and-white craves for.
"Wala sa akin yung award. Ang goal ko is makita kami sa championship kahit wala na yung mga Robert Bolick at Javee Mocon," the fourth-year forward said, still giving a toast to their seniors from last year.
What Oftana wants to accomplish more, however, is to be a role model to his peers.
"I just play my game and be a role model sa mga kasama ko. Minsan yung mga nasa bench namin, nagtatampo pag di nakakalaro. Gusto kong tignan nila ako na nandoon pa rin ako, ready to step up sa kung anong kulang sa team namin," he said.
"I just want to be a role model sa mga teammates ko para ganahan din silang maglaro kahit off the bench o ilang second lang sila maglaro."
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