CALVIN Oftana said Game 5 of TNT’s clash against Meralco in the PBA 50th Season Philippine Cup will go down as one of the most exciting matchups, thus far, this season.
And he is just glad he was able to hold his own on defense after what teammates Rey Nambatac and Jordan Heading did late to pull off the win.
The Tropang 5G erased a five-point deficit in the dying seconds, with Nambatac nailing a four, and Heading completing a steal-and-score off of CJ Cansino.
READ: Rey Nambatac savors miraculous manner of TNT's finals return
Oftana later defended Cansino in the final moments of the game, with Cansino misfiring on a layup and a three-point shot, and TNT winning by three points, 99-96, to clinch a finals berth.
“Isa ‘yun sa pinaka-epic na laro ng PBA this conference,” said Oftana.
“Aside doon kay Holt, parang eto. Kasi lamang kami tapos nabaligtad tapos lumamang sila ng five points. Nai-shoot ni Rey ‘yung four points tapos steal ni Jordan, nabuhayan uli kami,” he added, referring to Stephen Holt's buzzer-beating game-winning trey that shot Ginebra over Converge in the quarterfinals.
“Siyempre, when the game is on the line, depensa lang kami, kailangan naming ibuhos lahat. I’m happy na binigyan pa ako ng strength ni Lord sa legs ko na dumepensa pa at that time. Biglang nag-flip ‘yung laro at kami naman, parang nabuhayan.”
A win is a win for Calvin
Cansino's layup, however, later became a contentious one with PBA commissioner Willie Marcial suspending referee Jeff Tantay for missing a foul on Oftana.
READ: PBA ref suspended for failing to call Oftana foul on Cansino
Regardless, the result of the game stood with the Tropang 5G advancing to the finals for the fourth straight conference.
“Eto ‘yung pinaghirapan namin. Eto ‘yung dream ng team, hindi lang para sa amim, para sa pamilya namin, sa management, kila boss MVP (Manny V. Pangilinan), boss Ricky [Vargas], sa franchise ng Talk ‘N Text," said Oftana.
"Happy kami na guided lang kami ng mga coaches: coach Chot [Reyes], boss Jolas [Lastimosa], buong coaching staff, sila coach Josh [Reyes], lahat kami involved. Happy na lahat kami nagko-contribute.”
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.
