HAS Calvin Oftana just gone AWOL in Game 3 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals?
Looks lit it.
TNT coach Chot Reyes said, too, was puzzled by Oftana suddenly nowhere to be found when the Tropang 5G needed his scoring in a 116-102 loss to Barangay Ginebra on Sunday night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
READ Chot says officiating ‘excellent’ in TNT's Game 3 loss to Ginebra
“O, ako rin hinahanap ko rin siya, e,” said Reyes with a wry smile on his face when asked about Oftana being held to just two points for his lowest total output so far in the best-of-seven series.
Of course, the 30-year-old Oftana has been nursing an infected toe since the start of the playoffs, which he admitted will require surgery shortly after the finals as he’s just relying on taking pain killers in order for him to play.
But his two-point production came just two days after he exploded for 31 points in TNT’s 101-94 win in Game 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Oftana played for almost 31 minutes Sunday, but shot just 1-of-8 from the field. He added five rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The San Beda stalwart also committed two turnovers, but the most glaring came off a bad pass to Chris McCullough, which resulted in a Justin Brownlee steal at the final 4:55 mark and TNT in the middle of a mini-rally that cut a huge 22-points deficit to just 100-91.
Oftana was forced to foul RJ Abarrientos and stop a Ginebra transition play.
Reyes was left so frustrated by the turnover he took his star player out of the game for Rey Nambatac.
Oftana was fielded back inside the final minute, but the Kings were already on their way to victory by that time.
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