By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Calvin Oftana’s new career-high in points came at the most perfect time after leading the TNT Tropang Giga to their first win in the ongoing PBA Commissioner’s Cup on December 11, 2024.
The veteran gunner fired 42 points built from nine three-pointers which was more than enough to put the Tropang Giga on the PBA winning column after taking down the Magnolia Hotshots Chicken Timplados, 103-100.
Oftana quickly heated up in the first half, scoring 23 points, derived from four treys that put TNT ahead, 52-48.
With Magnolia not backing down as they answered every offensive run that the Tropang Giga mounted, Oftana finally iced the game with two crucial three-pointers in the remaining three minutes of the ball game.
His last trey pushed TNT’s advantage back to double digits, 102-90, which put the MVP-backed franchise in a comfortable position.
“Last game pa mainit si Calvin, but in the second half, we failed to get him the ball in the crucial moments. So we talked about that as a team and I’m glad the players responded to continue to find him,” said Coach Chot Reyes after their first win.
The Chicken Timplados threatened to stage a dramatic comeback after scoring garbage points in a jiffy that pulled them to within three points after a Mark Barroca circus three-pointer.
However, time wasn’t on Magnolia’s side as TNT only dribbled out the remaining two seconds left in regulation.
Aside from Oftana, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, TNT’s resident import, reached the 40-point mark alongside 13 rebounds, five assists, and four steals.
Hollis-Jefferson picked up where Oftana started and took over in the second half, especially during that intense third-quarter where he single-handedly answered every basket Magnolia made.
On the other hand, Ricardo Ratliffe, Magnolia’s reinforcement, led his squad with another double-double outing of 27 points and 14 rebounds.
The Tropang Giga will look to clinch their second consecutive win on December 19, 2024, against the Blackwater Bossing while Magnolia seeks to redeem themselves against the Rain or Shine Elastopainters on December 18, 2024.