IS Calvin Oftana the next Gilas Pilipinas player headed overseas?
South Korean media and vloggers have recently posted cryptic contents about the 6-foot-5 TNT star guard and a possible transfer to the Korean Basketball League via the Suwon KT Sonicboom.
Oftana’s agent, PJ Pilares, confirmed the aggressive pursuit of KT Sonicboom that he said started even before the sweet-shooting former San Beda Red Lion was traded by NLEX to the Tropang 5G two years ago.
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“Yes, they are very, very aggressive in [trying to] acquire him. Not just KT Sonic Boom, but we have been receiving feelers,” Pilares told SPIN.ph.
However, the popular international player agent revealed that Oftana's current contract and personal situation won't allow him to follow in the footsteps of his other overseas-based players like Dwight Ramos, Francis Lopez and Will Navarro.
“Unfortunately, we can’t talk to then yet,” he said. “We have a contract with TNT until December 2027. So, we can’t negotiate with them yet.”
Pilares believes all the noise about Oftana’s supposed move to KT Sonicboom, which had Dave Ildefonso and later JD Cagulangan as Asian quota imports, was a result of misconceptions about his TNT contract by some in the Korean media.
“Because, when we first talked to the Koreans, we were on our way to TNT. And little do they know, we signed a two-year extension upon our transfer to TNT. So he is under contract until the end of 2027,” Pilares declared.
But once his contract expires, will a Korean transfer be in the cards for Oftana?
“Actually, we were really looking at the offer before. But Calvin’s wife intervened. She is a doctor and she wanted to practice here. So Calvin can’t leave him for a tour of duty abroad,” he said.
But will this change in the next one year and eight months?
“We never know. Pero ako I have always told everyone that I would always prioritize my players playing abroad especially if they are capable. Bigger opportunities await them there,” he said.
And with the offer from the KT Sonicboom on the table, will TNT allow one of its key players to leave?
Don’t be surprised if one of these days, Oftana will be in the headlines signing a new contract extension.
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