CALVIN Oftana said that he’s ready to suit up should TNT call his number in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup set on Wednesday at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The Gilas Pilipinas gunner missed Game 6 of the best-of-seven affair with a calf injury, but that didn't stop the Tropang 5G from pulling off a 98-90 win over Barangay Ginebra to force the title decider.
“Magiging ready lang ako. Kung ipapasok ako ni coach ready ako. Wala tayong magagawa andyan na yan ima-manage nalang yan,” Oftana said. “As of now may naffeel ako pero kaya naman ilaro. Ayaw lang nila coach pilitin baka matuluyan pa.”
Oftana shared that he was actually ready to play had his number been called but TNT head coach Chot Reyes decided to err on the side of caution.
That decision proved to be smart.
“Mina-manage lang. Gusto ko naman maglaro e pero sila coach na yung nag-decide na hindi. So we’ll see sa Game 7 kung ipapasok ako ni coach. Happy ako na nakuha namin to. May last chance talaga, ito yung maganda laruin e. Sana andun lahat,” he said.
“May something sa calf ko, pero manageable naman siya. Sinabi ko nga kay coach na gusto ko maglaro pero sila nag-decide na hindi ako ipasok. So gusto ko lang maging positive sa bench, tulungan mga kasama ko,” he added.
With Oftana sitting out alongside Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Kelly Williams and RR Pogoy took turns guarding RJ Abarrientos – a task that was assigned to Oftana over the past few games.
On the offensive end of things, it was Chris McCullough who shouldered the load in his absence after the returning import dropped a career-high 53 points alongside a career-high tying 22 rebounds.
Oftana couldn’t be any more grateful to his teammates for carrying the load.
“Sobrang proud wala akong masabi sa effort ng mga teammate ko. Sana sa Game 7 ganun parin.”
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