CALVIN Oftana blurted out a strongly-worded line straight out from a Fernando Poe Jr. blockbuster movie.
“Nasimulan na ito. Tapusin na natin,” he said as TNT mowed down Rain or Shine, 108-92, and moved on the cusp of advancing to the finals of the PBA Philippine Cup at the Mall of Asia Arena Wednesday night.
READ: TNT one win away from another PBA Finals after win over RoS
The 16-point win paved way for the Tropang 5G to take a commanding 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven series against the embattled Elasto Painters.
TNT will be looking for the clincher two days from now as Game 5 is set at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The victory though, came with a price as Oftana sprained his left ankle that further compounded TNT’s injury woes in this playoffs.
Despite hurting his foot, the former NCAA MVP still managed to deliver 16 points, seven rebounds, and four assists, although he committed a team-high five turnovers.
Notwithstanding a swollen ankle, Oftana said he’ll be ready to play on Friday come hell or high water.
“Dikdikan na ito. Wala ng kailangan na i-rason na masakit ito,” he said. “Pag kaya pa, igapang mo na.”
Oftana actually sprained his left ankle as early as the first quarter, but managed to play through the pain especially with Rain or Shine dominating the first half.
Then early in the fourth, he sprained his other ankle, prompting coach Chot Reyes to sit him down.
He returned three minutes later and tried to feel both ankles, played for a little below three minutes, before finally going back to the bench at the 5:16 mark with TNT in command, 97-83.
“Namaga na siya,” he said of his ankle. “Pero ok lang yan, malayo naman sa bituka.”
In as much as he wanted the series to finally end, Oftana though, is not counting Rain or Shine out.
“Knowing Rain or Shine, yung fighting spirit nila nandiyan palagi,” he said of the Elasto Painters, whose coach, Yeng Guiao, was his former mentor and the one who picked him in the first round of the 2020 draft.
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