TNT’s chances of winning Game 6 and extending the PBA 50th Season Commissioner’s Cup finals could rest on how well Calvin Oftana and Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser can manage the pain from their injuries for Sunday’s all-important match.
Oftana and Ganuelas-Rosser missed the final stretch of Game 5, and were left to see TNT squander its lead to go down to Barangay Ginebra, 100-95, on the bench after the Tropang 5G lost grip of an 87-80 lead entering the last four minutes of regulation.
READ: Chot rues 29-17 free-throw disparity in Game 5 loss to Ginebra
Oftana has been playing through a right toe injury that will require surgery after the conference. The surgery has forced Oftana to miss the upcoming window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers in July.
Oftana was on the bench for the entire duration of overtime.
Ganuelas-Rosser, meanwhile, rolled his right ankle with 7:05 left in the third quarter. BGR still returned early in the fourth quarter, but went back to the bench a few possessions later after experiencing pain again as he ran up and down the court.
The No. 1 pick in the Season 47 draft was spotted still limping on his way out of the Smart-Araneta Coliseum after the game.
Oftana said he will play through injury again in Game 6.
“Sana maging okay lahat at pray lang talaga ‘yung kayang gawin tsaka pain killer,” said Oftana, who also plays a crucial role on the defensive end for TNT as he was assigned to defend RJ Abarrientos in Game 5.
“Hindi talaga siya gagaling ng basta basta kasi kulob siya, parating nasa sapatos at hindi nagagalaw. After nito, konti na lang, papaoperahan na,” he added.
RR Pogoy cited how crucial is Ganuelas-Rosser’s role to the team.
“Sobrang crucial si Brandon kasi kailangan namin siya sa rebound at depensa,” said Pogoy. “Siya nga rin ‘yung dumedepensa kay RJ. Na-injure pa. Ganun talaga buhay.”
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.
