BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone applauded the recent play of Calvin Oftana, who was the focal point of the Kings' defense in their Christmas Day game against TNT.
Cone said he is not surprised to see Oftana become the main option of the Tropang Giga's offense in the season-opening Commissioner’s Cup.
“Calvin is our target all the way through,” said Cone, who got to see Oftana up close during their stint with Gilas Pilipinas in the Asian Games. “He is having a tremendous All-Star, MVP-like conference right now so he was our real target.”
READ Two TNT players who caught the eye of Chiba Jets coach
Oftana scored a game-high 27 points in TNT’s 86-78 defeat to Barangay Ginebra, taking 26 attempts from the field and making 11.
“We knew Jayson (Castro) wasn’t going to play. We knew Rondae [Hollis-Jefferson] wasn’t going to play. We put our full attention on Calvin, and Calvin still found ways to get free and open. A lot of credit to him. He really, really works hard in the game and that’s what you appreciate,” said Cone.
Oftana was so hot Ginebra’s former league MVP Scottie Thompson asked to take the defensive assignment, limiting Oftana to six points in the fourth quarter after exploding for 10 in the third.
Oftana is now averaging 20.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 2.9 assists for the Tropang Giga.
“He actually asked for him,” said Cone of Thompson. “They are best buddies from the Gilas team. They are roommates from the Gilas team. They are really, really tight.”
“He (Oftana) was getting loose and during the timeout with about seven minutes to go, he said, ‘Let me have him. Let me have Calvin.’ They switched him over to Calvin,” said Cone.
“Obviously, it was a great coaching move… by Scottie to do that and he took the challenge,” said Cone with a smile.
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.
